^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


14^118  |2.5 

|5o  ^^™  Mb 

•^  Uii  |2.2 

I"  m 


llllil 


1.25  I  ,.4   ^ 

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6"     

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Photograpiiic 

Sciences 

(j3rpQralion 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WUSTIR,N.Y.  145M 

(716)t73-4S03 


'^ 


^3 

1 

^ 

p 

CIHM/ICMH 

CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Collection  de 

Series. 

microfiches. 

^ 

■ 

[U 

Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  Microraproductiona              Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 

1980 

Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Inttituta  ha*  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  unlqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  balow. 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  couiaur 


I     I    Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurta  at/ou  palliculAa 


r~~|    Covar  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  maps/ 

Cartas  gAographiquas  an  couiaur 


□    Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  blacit)/ 
Encra  da  couiaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


Colourad  platas  and/or  Illustrations/ 
Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  couiaur 


□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Rali6  avec  d'autras  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArleure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certalnes  pages  blanches  ajoutias 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparalssent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  AtA  filmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilmA  la  mailleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  At4  poaaibia  da  aa  procurer.  Lea  details 
da  cet  exemplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I     I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 

D 


Pages  de  couieur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAas 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurtes  at/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe< 
Pages  dAcolorAes,  tachetAes  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachies 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

QualitA  InAgaia  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  supplAmentaire 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~y!  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

|~~|  Pages  detached/ 

I    1  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

nn  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  fauillet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  At  A  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  mailleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rAduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


v/ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  he*  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  fiimt  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArosit*  de: 

BibliothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  netteti  de  l'exemplaire  filmA,  et  an 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  ;iage  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichevob'  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  :oo  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6, 11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

* 


t 


^.Ji     fy^'^^>m.tu^,ll.i 


-    3 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


-J 


'n'mmm 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


IN  SONG  AND  POEM 


»Y 


WILLIAM  P.  Mckenzie 

B.  A.,  Author  of  "^  Soiij;;  of  Trust" 


"All  this  time  and  all  times  wait  the  words  of   true  poems- 
ihe  words  of  true  poems  do  not  simply  please." 


1889 

NEW  YORK:     EQUITY  PUBLISHING  CO. 

9  Wkst  14TH  St. 

TORONTO:     HART  &  COMPANY 


P5  3-475" 


7?3:;3 


Coi' 


VRIGHT,  iS 


BV 


William  P.  McKenzir 

All  fights  reseri'iii 


y 


i:;3 


TO 
CORINNA 

A  VVoMAxN  OF  THE  AgE. 


I 


CONTENTS 


APOLOGIA     . 

SPOKEN  IN  HIS  NAME 

ll'Aat  if.  the  poet  can  not  huiUat  all " 
"  In  His  Name  " 

How  Brother  Lawrence  Walked  with  God 
••     A  Conversation    . 
II.     A  Letter 
"  Whom  We  Call  the  Dead  " 
An  Astronomer's  View 
Bear  Thine  Own  Fruit 
The  City  of  God 

My  Past 

*  •  •  . 

Sorrow 

•  •  , 

An  Expostulator  Overheard 

"The  rivers   hasten" 

Gifts  in  Sleep 

Living 

The  Cripple 

Evil      . 

A  Song  of  the  Dawning 


I'AOE 

14 


16 
17 

18 
22 

24 

24 

31 

32 

36 

36 

37 

41 

48 

43 

43 
46 

47 


10 


CONTENTS 


I 


i;     i 


I'     f 


UNDERTONES 

"  IVhik  bini-soni^  makes  the  wild-wood  echoes  ring 
A  Voice  Reading        .... 

His  First  Tourney  Remembered 

Song  of  Sir  Fclko 

Gabrielle  ..... 

A  Confession         .... 

Sunrise         ...... 

Expostulation  .... 

A  Story  in  Three  Voices 

I.     In  a  Parlor  .  .  .  . 

II.  In  a  Cell         .... 
''The  bells  they  ring' 

"/  sing  by  the  waves  of  the  glaneing  sea  " 
''Moan,  moan,  moan"  .  .  . 

III.  In  a  Boudoir 
The  Songs  of  Two 

I.     Heard  at  Sunset 

II.     The  Answer  at  Dawn 
A  Nocturne       ..... 
A  Woman  of  the  A^e        .... 
By  the  Sounding  Shore 

Half-Thoughts       .  .  .  .  . 

Valse  Premiere  .... 

Baby  Elinor 

The  Mother  Sings 

The  Poet's  Reverie 

Lullaby  Song  .... 

St.  Anthony's  Victory 


PAl'.E 

52 
53 
54 
55 

56 

57 

59 
60 

61 
63 
65 
66 

67 

63 

71 

71 
72 
73 
77 
77 
7a 

79 

79 
81 

82 


CONTENTS 


II 


FRIENDSHIP  I  CELEBRATE 

-7%re  co„u.s  a  le,u;ui  Jro,„  the  Persian  land" 
"I  Have  a  Friend" 
Memories 
Au  Revoir 

V  '  '  ' 

rame 

"Up  to  the  Light,  Together" 

Waiting 

•  .  , 

Inflowing  Tide 

Springing  Water 

Knightly   Inspiration 

A  Farewell 


SPEECH  OF  A  LOVER 


Dementia  Amantis 
Hope  Victorious 

•  •  J 

Divinity  of  Love 
Love  in  Heath 
At  Moon  rise 

Among  the  Red  Clover 
A  Crown 

*  •  ^ 

Love's  Dilemma 

I  Love  Thee.  Sweet 

Arabic  Love-Sf)nir 

A  Lowland  Song 

Unworthiness 

New  Zealand  Imitation 

Sair  to  Bide 


86 

87 

87 

88 

89 

89 

90 

91 

91 

9» 

93 


97 
98 

99 

99 
loo 

lot 

103 

103 

104 

104 

105 

106 

106 

107 


12 


CONTENTS 


'I 


PACK 

Song  ......  iu8 

Moonlight  ......         109 

Love's  Baptism         .  .  1 10 

The  Moon-Lover  .  .  .  .111 

Longing         ......  112 

NATURE-SPEECH 

"  Call  not   the  poet  idle,   thoiis;h  he  spend"      .  .         II4 

Swannanoa  .  II5 

Rain  .  .116 

Calm  ......  117 

The  Sleepless  Sea  .118 

A  Song  of  the  Sea     .....  I18 

October   Wind  .  .119 

In  the  West  .....  131 

Sea  Breeze  .  .122 

The  Treasures  of  the  Snow  .  123 

Under  an  Oak      ......        125 

Snow  in  April  .....  126 

The  Victor  Sea  .....         127 

River  Hopewell        .....  128 

The  Homeless  Sea  .....         129 

LOVE-LETTERS 

"'  /  love  the  sounding  of  thy  name  in  Greek  "       .  I38 

Letter  i.        Doubt  •  »33 

Letter  ii.       Hope  ....  139 

Letter  iii.     Assurance  ....  T45 

Letter  iv.     Absence  ....  151 

POST  SCRIPTUM 157 


I'Ar.K 
1 08 

109 

no 

III 

112 


114 

"5 

116 

H7 

118 

118 

lig 

[21 

122 

23 
25 
26 

27 
28 
29 


I 


/ 


APOLOGIA 

Glad  tidings  of  relief  the  lame  may  bring 
To  some  beleaguered  city,  and  the  blind 
From  midnight  ambuscade  the  path  may  find  ; 

On  high  the  bird  may  sail  with  measured  wing 

And  yet  no  song  ecstatic  downward  fling  ; 

What  rhythmic  laiv  the  rushing  breeze  can  bind  ? 
With  flight  as  eager  (critic  yet  be  kind) 

The  song  that  gushes  from  the  heart  I  sing. 

I  hasten  with  good-will  though  I  be  halt, 
And  visions  I  have  seen  if  I  be  blind  ; 

The  voice  may  quaver,  call  it  not  the  fault 
Of  perfect  music  singing  in  the  mind  ; 

I  do  my  highest,  this  my  song  commend 

To  all  7vho  have  a  Lover  or  a  Friend. 


14 


id? 


SPOKEN  IN  HIS  NAME 


% 
«. 


IVAa/  if  the  poet  can  tiot  build  at  all 

With  t/uarried granite  cut  to  plummet's  line, 
And  heart  from  heart  by  logic-7valls  define — 

He  tieedeth  not  to  praise  the  words  that  fall 

Like  seed  to  earth,  for  life  must  these  forth-call 
To  endless  resurrection,  for  a  sign 
Of  truth  revealed ;  so  may  the  Irving  vine 

Clothe  yet  with  green  the  crumbling  prostrate  walL 

As  lily-buds  unfold,  so  not  by  toil, 
Or  builder's  clamor  doth  he  manifest 

Eternal  truth  ;  he  yieldeth  God  the  soil 

Of  trust  and  Im^e, — His  seed  and  sun  the  rest ; 

Sweep  doivn  his  flowers  if  you  will,  but  kno7ci  : 

They  die  for  you,  for  others  they  will  groio. 


"IN  HIS  NAME" 

A  king's  son  loquitur. 

My  people,  brethren  of  God's  Son 

Who  trod  the  narrow  way  of  shame 
For  love  of  us,  nor  death  would  shun 
If  so  be  He  might  make  us  one 

With  God,  I  love  you  "  In  His  Name." 

My  friend,  shut-in,  who  cannot  sing 
Of  joy,  for  grief  doth  lay  its  claim, 

And  pain  doth  visit,  wearying, 

He  sympathizes,  and  I  bring 

A  face  of  sunshine,  "  In  His  Name." 

And  you  whose  manhood  hath  been  sold 

To  drunkenness,  and  lust  that  came 
From  lower  nature,  may  unfold 
The  white  flower  yet,  so  I  out-hold 
A  hand  to  lift  you,  "  In  His  Name." 

Nor  you  by  guile  of  man  misled. 

Whom  gentle  sisters  hold  to  shame, 
Do  I  condemn,  droop  not  your  head, 
You  fought  with  hunger,  they  are  fed  , 
My  heart  is  sorry,  "  In  His  Name." 

17 


^ 


1^     I 


I8  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

I  loathe  the  very  thought  of  sin, 
Yet  not  the  vilest  dare  defame  ; 

For  daily  conquests  he  may  win, 

To  higher  living  enter  in 
Than  I  who  help  him  "  In  His  Name." 

But  you  self-righteous  Pharisee, 
Thrusting  aside  the  blind  and  lame. 

And  closing  heaven  with  your  key, 

Who  flatter  self  despising  me, 

I  scorn  your  judgment  "In  His  Name." 

V 

The  little  children  once  He  blessed 

When  to  His  knees  they  wondering  came  ; 
To  be  like  you  I  think  were  best, 
With  love  to  every  one  confessed, 
I  love  you,  love  you  "In  His  Name." 


HOW  BROTHER  LAWRENCE*  WALKED 
WITH  GOD 


I.       A    CONVERSATION 

I've  walked  as  in  His  presence  since  the  day 
When  first  I  saw  His  Wisdom  and  His  Power — 
Eighteen  I  was  ;  I  stood  before  a  tree 
Stripped  of  its  leaves  by  winter's  ruthless  hand. 
And  thought  how  flower  and   leaf  would  be   re- 
newed. 
And  fruit  would  ripen  through  the  care  of  One 

•Nicholas  Herman  of  Loraine,  who  became  a  Lay-Brother  among   the 
barefooted  Carmelites  at  Paris  in  1666. 


BROTHER  LAWRENCE 


19 


"Who  is  the  Wise  ;    and  lo  !    I  was  cut  loose 
From  all  the  world,  and  filled  with  love  for  Him. 
Oh,  I  have  ripened  in  that  sun  of  Love  ! 
I  shall  be  garnered  soon,  who  am  four-score, 
And  I  shall  see  His  face  whom  I  have  known. 

But  you — is  it  a  soul-sincere  desire 
To  serve  Him  too  that  brings  you  thus  to  me  ? 
Then  I  will  not  be  wearied  howso-oft 
You  question  ;  but  if  otherwise,  come  not. 
For  I  must  seek  to  do  His  work  alone. 


The  boisterous  soldier-life  was  mine  awhile, 
Then  awkward  footman  was  I  to  his  grace  ; 
At  last  lay-brother  'mong  the  Carmelites, — 
I  thought  that  I  should  smart  for  all  my  faults 
Of  clumsy  finger  and  slow-moving  sense, 
Make  life  and  joy  a  sacrifice  to  God  ; 
I  thought  of  penance.  He  hath  given  peace. 
My  cup  of  life  is  over-filled  with  good. 

You  so  would  live  ?  Then  tread  the  way  of  faith  ; 
Not  fast  and  prayers,  but  life  of  faithfulness  ; 
More  than  belief  in  God,  fidelity. 
Make  love  of  God  the  end,  for  that  do  all. 
If  it  be  only  lifting  up  a  stiaw  ; 
Be  it  your  business  to  delight  in  God. 
Of  little  value  do  I  count  the  act 
Of  understanding  when  with  will  compared  : 
Better  is  heart  to  do  than  head  to  know  ; 
Your  power  divine  is  love  to  do  His  will. 

Be  frank  and  simple  asking  Him  to  help 
In  all  affairs  of  life  as  they  may  come. 
They  sent  me  once  to  Burgundy  for  wine  ; 
The  task  unwelcome  for  I  was  not  apt 


20 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


At  making  bargains,  and  besides  am  lame — 
I  was  about  His  business,  so  I  said, 
Uneasiness  was  gone,  and  all  came  well. 
To  kitchen  work  they  gave  me  fifteen  years 
My  nature  was  averse  ;  but  I  could  plan 
The  things  required,  and  how  I  was  to  do, 
Then  be  set  free  to  speak  to  God  in  prayer 
The  while  my  hands  were  busy  in  His  work. 
When  business  of  the  hour  is  finished  well 
Then  thanks  are  due  unto  the  present  God  ; 
If  otherwise,  ask  pardon,  be  set  right  again, 
Rise  from  the  fall  ;  you  cannot  lose  His  love. 
'Tis  thus  you  learn  wherein  your  weakness  is 
And  boldness  gain  to  seek,  and  find  His  strength' 
More  than  sufficient  for  the  present  need. 

Of  penance  did  you  ask  ?  I  bid  you  none  ; 
I  do  confess  my  faults  to  God,  nor  plead 
Against  Him  to  excuse.     What  exercise 
Or  pain  of  body  teaches  love  to  God  ? 
Go  straight  to  Him  by  exercise  of  love 
Continually  ;  this  is  the  shortest  way. 
The  troubled  mind  doth  only  need  the  faith 
That  God  is  present,  and  to  be  content 
In  doing  all  things  purely  for  His  sake  ; 
Let  Him  be  pleased  whatever  else  may  come. 

I  say  not  either  join  the  brotherhood  : 
It  needeth  not  set  times  and  discipline 
For  true  devotion  ;  in  your  busy  life 
You  can  be  nearer  Him  than  when  retired 
For  silent  hour  by  some  superior  set ; 
For   then    will    come    the   fight  with   wandering 
thought. 


BROTHER  LAWRENCE 


81 


Let  outward  business  not  divert  from  God, 
So  shall  a  fresh  remembrance  of  His  love 
Invest  the  soul  each  hour,  and  so  inflame 
The  heart  with  answering  love  that  life  is  joy. 
For  duty  then  take  never  anxious  thought, 
Before  your  need,  as  in  a  mirror  clear, 
God  will  reveal  the  way  to  do  His  will. 

You  fear  you  may  be  damned  ?     So  once  did  I 
Four  years  I  suffered  in  an  agony  ; 
But  then  I  thought  :     Only  for  love  of  God 
I  came  among  these  brethren,  and  have  sought 
Only  for  Him  to  act  ;  so  must  I  do 
Whatever  comes,  if  I  be  lost  or  saved. 
The  love  of  God  must  ever  be  my  end, — 
Then  came  my  life  to  perfect  liberty. 

I  cannot  claim  desert,  I  place  my  sins 
'Tvvixt  me  and  God  as  if  to  tell  Him  so  ; 
But  yet  He  blesses  me  abundantly. 
Because  He  pities  with  a  Father's  heart. 
No  power  of  mine  could  e'er  efface  a  sin  ; 
I  do  expect,  without  anxiety, 
Their  cleansing  by  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ, 
While  I  with  loving  heart  do  follow  Him. 

The  end  of  life  ?     What  else  than  this, 
In  spirit  and  in  truth  to  worship  God, 
For  this  will  be  man's  joy  eternally. 
To  truth-enlightened  eyes  how  vile  the  self, 
III  humored,  sick,  so  tempted  of  the  wrong  ; 
By  pain  and  labor,  by  temptation  sore, 
It  is  made  humble,  and  looks  up  to  God 
Strength  of  the  weak,  and  end  of  all  desire. 
The  soul  with  highest  aspiration  filled 


23 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


So  to  be  perfect  as  the  Father  is, 
That  soul  is  most  dependent  on  His  jjfrace. 
If  you  believe,  all  things  are  possible  ; 
Less  difficult  unto  your  hopeful  mind, 
And  easier  yet  if  you  have  heart  of  love  ; 
But  let  the  three  be  joined  and  you  have  found 
The  way  most  excellent  that  leads  to  God. 
And  so  with  tranquil  spirit  walk  therein, 
His  Presence  shall  be  with  you  like  the  sun. 

11.       A    LETPKR 

I  am  in  pain  that  you  do  suffer  still; 
Yet  it  doth  sweeten  pain  and  grief  to  know 
They're  proofs  of  love  ;  'tis  God  permits 
The  suffering  to  purify  the  soul, 
To  draw  the  spirit  to  His  Father-heart. 

Take  courage,  offer  all  you  are  to  Him, 
And  even  in  infirmities  adore  ; 
Ask  not  deliv'rance,  but  for  strength  to  bear, 
For  love  of  Him,  so  long  as  He  shall  please, 
All  pains  that  He  shall  please.     How  good  it  is 
With  God  to  suffer,  howsoever  great 
The  suffering  be,  receiving  it  in  love  ! 

If  we  could  only  know  how  much  He  loves 
Who  knoweth  best  what  things  our  need  requires^ 
We   should   be  pleased  with  all  that  came  from 

Him, 
Bitter  or  sweet  ;    afflictions  be  they  sore, 
Are  not  unbearable  save  when  we  guess 
Their  purpose  wrongly,  and  see  not  the  Hand. 

I  know  if  one  could  hourly  realize 
His  present  Love  it  would  alleviate 


BROTHER  LAWRENCE 


23 


All  bodily  disease.     As  your  case  is, 

Why  not  leave  off  the  human  remedies 

And  utterly  to  God  resign  yourself  ? 

Maybe  He  waits  your  perfect  trust  in  Him 

Ere  He  may  cure.     'Twill  not  be  tempting  Him  ; 

Your  maladies  increase  despite  your  care, 

And  your  physicians  have  been  valueless, 

Yourself  abandon  therefore  in  His  hands  ; 

Be  comforted  expecting  all  from  Him. 

If  pain  remain,  then  love  will  make  it  sweet  ; 

With  joy  and  courage  suffer  for  His  sake, 

Knowing  your  Father's  love  is  infinite. 

Beseech  Him  humbly  then,  as  if  a  child, 
To  make  you  to  His  holy  will  conformed. 
Our  greatest  joy  is  this,  our  highest  good. 
To  love  Him  equally  whate'er  He  send. 
And  thus,  as  knowledge  cometh,  must  you  love  ; 
To  know  God,  then,  let  your  employment  be. 
Seek  Him  by  faith  alone,  He  is  within  ; 
No  elsewhere  seek,  but  cast  out  all  besides 
That  would   possess   the   heart.      The   change   is 

wrought 
While  we  aspire,  if  we  on  our  part  do 
But  what  we  can  ;  so  let  us  live  and  die 
As  in  His  Presence.     He  will  not  forsake 
Till  we  forsake  ;  oh,  fear  to  leave  Him  then  ! 
Let  us  be  always  with  Him  !     Pray  for  me 
As  I  to  Him  for  you  do  pray.     Adieu. 

This  favor  from  His  mercy  is,  I  hope 
To  see  His  face  within  a  few  days  now.* 
Yours  in  the  Lord, 


i 


*Two  days  later  taken  ill  he  died  within  the  week. 


!?l 


24 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONKS 


^1      i  i 


!i( 


'■• 


"WHOM  WE  CALL  THE  DEAD" 

Thosk  other  living  whom  we  call  the  dead, 
Whose  soul  in  mortal  body  had  its  dawn, 
And  quickened  it  to  beauty,  have  they  gone 

To  wandering  loneliness  'mong  shadows  dread  ? 

From  earthly  house  decayed  hath  each  one  fled 
A  straying  spirit,  organless,  and  wan  ? 
Nay  not  unclothed  is  he,  but  clothed  upon, 

From  body  new-create  his  light  is  shed. 

And  lo  !  our  Brother-Friend  awaiting  stands. 
Who  life  and  incorruption  brought  to  light, 

To  bring  us  to  our  house  not  made  with  hands. 
And   in  His  presence  there  shall  be  no  night  ; 

Who,  who  can  fear  to  cease  this  faltering  breath 

And  be  at  home  with  God  ?     And  this  is  death  ! 


AN  ASTRONOMER'S  VIEW 

Prove  you  immortal,  and  you  will  believe  ? 
In  what  believe, — in  the  eternal  God  ? 
Nay  Julian,  downy-bearded,  'twere  not  well  ; 
Yourself  must  prove  all  things  and  hold  the  good, 
Yourself  must  turn  from  flux  and  ebb  and  change 
To  changeless  realm  of  the  eternal  Truth  ! 

But  I  will  tell  you,  Julian,  how  I  know 
Eternal  life.     Does  mother-love  need  proof  ? 
Is  life  discovered  by  the  scalpel's  point  ? 


ix2 


ill 


AN  ASTRONOMER'S  VIEW 


25 


If  one  should  doubt,  will  prft?-|  by  algebra 
Or  syllogism  show  him  life  and  love  ? 
As  I  know  these  I  know  the  steadfast  rock 
That  rises  'mid  the  pulsing  waves  of  time. 


Afar  from  city's  fret  and  strife  began 
My  sojourn  on  the  earth  ;    I  loved  the  birds 
That  gave  me  daily  welcome  ;  felt  akin 
To  every  blossom,  and  half-timidly 
Would  list  the  sighing  of  the  pine-trees  tall. 
A  something  dwelt  in  all,  I  could  not  tell  ; 
Its  whisper  fainted  past  me  now  and  then. 
And  forth  my  soul  would  leap  to  catch  a  word. 

Then  syllables  came  to  me  in  the  roil 
Of  music  down  the  dim  cathedral  aisles  ; 
I  saw  in  marble  wrought  by  sculptor's  hand 
A  word  ;  and  seemed  to  hear  unuttered  thought 
Where  colors  from  the  pictured  canvas  glowed. 
I  felt  a  presence  somehow  in  them  all, 
As  if  I'd  known  it  long  ago  somewhere  ; 
Nor  thought  to  call  this  God,  to  whom  I  prayed 
At  morn  and  eve,  for  He  dwelt  high  in  heaven. 

Wild  Nature  loved  I  best,  she  whispered  so 
Of  something  always  better  than  was  known 
That  made  me  glad  ;  and  patiently  I  sought 
With  prying  glass  and  needle-point  to  find 
How  life  could  be  :  why  red  blood  flowed  in  man 
And  green  blood  in  the  leaf.     I  found  not  this, 
But  crucible  and  test  and  scale  revealed 
How  few  the  matters  Nature  hath  in  store 
Wherewith  to  give  her  thought  appearances. 
To  build  a  flower  or  star,  the  earth  or  man  ; 
And  thousand  forms,  though  less  than  eye  can  see, 


26 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


I  found  all  beautiful  ;  nay  more,  could  trace 

Life's  energy  in  flawless  moving  speck, — 

A  hundred  times  I  laid  the  scalpel  down, 

And   bowed  my  head,  o'erwhelmed  withj  "  God  is 

here," 
As  when  a  child  I  lay  and  watched  the  stars, 
And  thrilled  with  wonder  thinking,  "God  is  there." 


Then  turned  I  from  the  miracles  of  life. 
In  leaf  and  insect,  monad  and  in  man. 
Whereby  our  world  in  mystery  is  clothed. 
I  found  the  earth  upon  its  course  was  hurled 
A  score  of  miles  each  click  of  pendulum. 
Through  cold  of  outer  space  where  mercury 
Were  ten  times  frozen  ;  yet  hath  store  of  heat 
(Else  life  were  not)  held  by  the  mantling  air, 
That  miserlike  doth  grasp  its  reach  of  rays 
From  lavish  sun  that  pour,  widespread  and  free.  • 
Through  potency  whereof  the  lofty  trees 
Are  lifted  into  being  ;  yea,  and  we 
From  field  and  orchard  have  our  need  supplied. 
I  wonder  not  that  they  the  sun  adored 
Who  had  not  known  he  was  a  millionth  one 
'Mong  orbs  that  circle  in  the  universe 
Wherein  the  miracle  of  power  is  wrought. 

My  mind  was  baffled  by  immensity. 
Stupendous  distances,  and  height  and  depth 
So  vast,  one  shrinks  with  tremor  of  a  fear  ; 
But  yet  the  soul  is  greater  than  all  these, — 
With  joy  expectant  of  discovery 
I  knew  my  right  to  search  the  deepest  things. 

I've  marked  the  sun's  corona  at  eclipse. 
Whose  pearly  light  trails  forth  unnumbered  miles 


AN  ASTRONOMERS  VIEW 


27 


Outward  from  glory  of  the  chromosphere, 

Where  heave  and  toss  the  rose  and  crimson  fires. 

I've  measured  at  the  photosphere  the  heat, 

And  hold  if  earth  itself  should  therein  fall    • 

'Twould  burst  to  vapor  like  a  flake  of  snow. 

And  then  his  light, — you've  been  with  me   I  think 

Where  moaning  blast  the  rigid  iron  doth  fuse. 

How  dazzling  was  the  pour  !     Yet  it  would   be 

As  mud  to  milk  if  it  should  fall 

In  some  converter,  spitting  molten  steel 

From    dragon    mouth    whose    breath   is  blinding 

flame. 
Than  this  what  brighter  can  the  sense  forebode  ? 
But  were  the  sun  of  molten  steel  his  light 
Five  thousand  times  is  brighter  now  than  then  ; 
Yet  can  I  think  the  time  when  like  the  moon 
He  shall  have  shrunk  with  cold,  his  radiance  spent. 
More  easily  than  think  I  shall  not  be. 


At  midnight,  when  we  turn  from  blazing  sun, 
And  nearer  light  no  more  conceals  the  stars. 
How  steadfast  gleam   the  lights   from  those  vast 

orbs 
That  numberless  the  encircling  heavens  fill  ; 
And  yet  our  sweeping  telescopes  have  known 
That  there  be  myriads  the  eye  sees  not. 
Nor  even  here  is  end  ;  the  camera 
Doth  gaze  at  eye-piece,  and  such  feeble  rays 
As  have  no  recognition  from  the  eye 
In  hours  do  print  upon  its  retina 
The  images  of  stars  beyond  our  ken. 

My  hand  lies  on  your  shoulder, — if  we  were 
As  sun  from  earth  apart,  the  nearest  star, 


28 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


i 


Say  Sirius,  is  four-score  miles  away  ; 

What  of  the  faint-seen  stars, — and  those  beyond  ? 

Imagination  fails,  like  jaded  horse, 

The  spur  not  felt,  only  the  weariness, 

Ere  one  can  comprehend  the  uncounted  years 

And  vastness  of  the  star-sown  universe. 

Yet  these  must  be  to  God  as  fleeting  mist  ! 

To  man  they  seem  eternal,  sick  of  loss 

And  earthly  change,  but  in  millenniums 

They  wax  and  wane,  the  systems  shine  and  die  ; 

Like  wreathed  mist  that  gathers  to  a  cloud. 

Holds  glory  of  the  sun,  is  blown  by  wind 

Or  melts  away  in  the  untroubled  air. 

As  cloud  replaces  cloud,  so  universe, 
For  time  doih  have  succession  endlessly  ; 
But  I  who  am  a  spirit  stand  apart, 
I  am  not  held  in  realm  of  time  and  change. 
My  body  is  of  dust  like  star  and  sun  ; 
The  same  I  would  not  be  if  these  were  not  ; 
Yet  were  they  not  myself  I  still  would  know. 
The  spirit  of  a  man  is  born  a  king. 
Disdaining  bondage  of  the  earthly  things  ; 
And  while  it  seeketh  truth  can  recognize 
Its  kingliness,  forget  mortality, 
And  in  the  search  be  timeless,  infinite, 
So  everywhere  must  find  God  immanent. 
Who  is  in  all,  through  all,  and  over  all. 
Thus  finding  Him,  I  yield  myself  by  faith 
To  all  His  influence  ;  as  little  child 
Grows  fatherlike  because  he  trusts,  so  I  ; 
And  knowing  God  I  know  eternal  life. 

You  called  it,  Julian,  everlasting  life, — 
It  is  not  life  for  endless  years  I  mean. 


AN  ASTRONOMER'S  VIEW 


29 


But  life  eternal,  that  which  now  abides 
Imperishably  'neath  the  show  of  things. 
The  living  spring  may  languish  in  the  heat 
That  earlier  had  bubbled  forth  in  strength, 
But  with  the  seasons  cometh  never  change 
To  mountain  brow  that  towers  above  the  cloud  ; 
So  endless  years,  and  lives  that  flow  and  ebb 
Are  clouds  that  vanish  to  Eternal  Life. 
The  years  add  naught  and  nothing  take  away, 
This  realm  of  the  Eternal  underlies 
All  that  hath  been,  is  now,  all  that  shall  be. 
Here  Time  is  naught,  and  Right  is  everything  : 
Can  Justice  have  dependence  on  the  years, 
Or  Truth  be  altered  by  the  season's  change, — 
God's  power  grow  feeble  like  a  waning  star, 
Or  I  who  know  Him  fade  from  memory  ? 

I  will  not  prophesy  of  those  who  choose 
The  dust  of  this  one  speck  among  the  worlds 
To  the  Eternal  God,  who  dwells  in  all  ; 
But  One  hath  said  they  build  on  river  sand, 
And  in  the  time  of  wind  and  rain,  the  flood 
Must  sweep  away  their  hope  to  nothingness. 

His  words,  my  Julian,  it  were  well  to  hear  ; 
For  there  be  two  revealings  of  one  God, 
Man  born  of  God,  the  universe  create, — 
His  Love  revealed  in  one,  His  Power  in  one  ; 
And  while  you  quest  the  universe  in  space. 
Forget  you  not  the  universe  in  time 
Where  stars  appearing  have  been  souls  of  men. 
Fear  not  to  search  through  all,  for  God  is  there. 
But  stars  have  not  one  glory,  neither  truths  ; 
Some  are  relate  to  time,  they  glow  and  fade. 


30 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Each  generation  hath  discoveries, 
Yet  Truth  remains  eternal. 

Thus  He  spake 
Who  was  in  Son  of  Man  the  Son  of  God  ; 
And  so,  'mong  many  brethren,  as  first-born 
He  standeth  forth,  the  Witness  of  the  truth  : — 

"  I  speak  the  words  of  spirit  and  of  life, 
The  truth  I  tell  you  which  I  heard  from  God, 
And  verily  I  say,  who  heareth  me 
And  doth  believe  on  Him  that  sent  me  hath 
Eternal  life  !"     Mark  you,  doth  enter  now  ! 
And  they  who  live  in  that  eternal  realm 
Are  witnesses  of  God,  by  truth  inspired. 
He  hath  more  witness  than  a  single  book 
Which  some  do  wrangle  is  the  only  light  ; 
For  every  son  of  man  who  dwells  in  God 
Becomes  a  light,  and   warms  the  world  with  love. 

Yet  pass  not  by  the  Book  ;  it  will  inspire. 
Yea  is  eternal  for  it  speaketh  truth. 
If  inspiration  were  not  otherwhere 
You  well  might  doubt  to  find  it  here  alone  ; 
But  if  you  search  the  deep  philosophies. 
The  wisdom  of  the  teachers,  lowly  song 
Of  bard,  ecstatic  vision  of  the  seer. 
And  having  known  of  inspiration  thus. 
Turn  to  the  Book,  white  light  of  fuller  truth 
Will  make  your  candle-lights  grow  yellow-d?m. 

What  school  to  follow  ?     Blindly   turn  to  none  ; 
The  right  of  judgment  yours,  your  duty  then 
To  judge  ;  not  all  is  food  the  schools  would  give. 
Not  truth  I  offer,  better  is  the  search  ; 
The  bird  learns  not  to  hang  her  swaying  nest, 


BEAR  THINE  OWN  FRUIT 


31 


Nor  bee  to  build  the  chambers  in  the  comb, 
For  in  their  sphere  God  maketh  them  to  know  ; 
But  man  his  mathematic  skill  doth  gain 
By  search  and  toil,  then  measureth  the  heavens  ; 
Through  hunger  seeketh  he  the  bread  of  life. 
Each  in  its  order  perfect,  rose  and  bee, 
Perfect  the  bird  to  know  the  season's  change, 
But  man  is  born  to  work  his  upward  way 
To  God  by  seeking  the  eternal  things. 

But  what's  our  sojourn  worth,  if  life  be  shrunk 
To  limit  of  the  things  that  pass  away, — 
Unless  we  grow,  as  seed  outgrows  the  earth 
And  enters  realm  of  sun  and  balmy  air  ? 
So  may  we  enter  the  eternal  realm, 
Not  creatures  of  the  tide  that  die  at  ebb 
Of  years,  but  who  imperishably  dwell 
In  Truth  and  Love,  enshrining  life  of  God. 


BEAR  THINE  OWN  FRUIT 


Once  a  peach  tree  gazed  despondent 

At  the  sky-aspiring  pine, 
Languid  grew  with  useless  wishing, 

"Would  such  towering  strength  were    mine  1" 
The  pine  exulted  in  the  sunshine. 

Tossed  glad  tassels  to  the  wind  ; 
But  the  peach  tree  found  no  gladness, 

Drooped  with  longing,  and  repined. 

In  the  Autumn  when  the  vinters 
Gathered  fruitage  of  the  vine, 


32  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

Still  the  unhappy  peach  was  wishing, 
"Would  such  clustered  fruit  were  mine  !" 

And  the  sunlight  brought  no  gladness, 
Only  discontent  and  pain, 

Since  the  power  that  others  joyed  in 
Spite  his  wish  he  could  not  gain. 

In  the  garden  walked  the  Master  ; 

"Why  thus  drooping  tree  of  mine  ? 
Though  ambitious  for  the  hill-top 

Thou  art  here  by  my  design.     . 
Now  I  prune  thy  useless  branches. 

Lack  of  power  no  more  bemoan. 
Every  fruit  thou  canst  not  yield  me, 

Be  content  to  bear  thine  own  !" 

Spring  returned,  and  now  life  glowing 

Blossomed  out  in  rosy  fire. 
All  through  summertide  he  waited 

Happy  in  his  one  desire  ; 
Till  the  glad  sunlight  was  prisoned, 

And  the  dawns  were  crimsoning 
All  his  golden  spheric  fruitage  ; 

Then  he  gave  it  like  a  king. 


THE  CITY  OF  GOD 

My  body  fell  aweary  with  the  strife 

My  questing  soul  did  urge  with  longings  fain, 
Seeking  in  flight  to  break  the  earthy  chain  ; 

To  God  I  cried  for  life,  for  higher  life. 


THE  CITY  OF  GOD 


3? 


Down  o'er  mine  eyes  the  veils  of  rose-flesh  fell  ; 
The  saying  last  they  looked  upon  did  run, 
"God  is  the  life  of  all,  and  God  is  one," 

So  on  the  words   my  dreaming  thought  did  dwell. 

Like  folded  robe  my  body  lay  unstirred, 
And  forth  I  fled  as  if  with  rustling  wings, 
By  music  thrilled  that  every  planet  sings  ; 

And  I  have  known  what  ear  hath  never  heard. 

I  sped  'mong  orbs  that  wheeled  in  faint  blue  light,. 
I  know  not  how,  save  that  my  wings  were  prayer. 
And  my  desire  did  launch  me  as  through  air. 

Until  a  glory  dawned  upon  my  sight  : — 

A  wall  more  white  than  moonbeams  on  the  snow  ; 
Within,  there  seemed  a  heart  of  throbbing  light 
Than  sun  at  cloudless  noon  more  dazzling  bright ;. 

Beneath,  a  rainbow's  iridescent  glow. 

My  course  the  spirit  swerved  till  overhead 
The  city  stood  ;  dull  red  of  jasper's  glow- 
Did  hide  the  glory,  and  descended  so 

As  if  a  crimson  plain  around  me  spread. 

Faces  of  pain  beside  me  scarce  were  seen, 
When  sapphire  shadow  made  a  twilight  blue. 
Whence  faces  calm  looked  forth  ;  then  bright- 
ness grew. 

Chalcedony's  dim  whiteness,  pure-serene. 

Methought  I  traversed  then  an  emerald  plain, 
With  faces  full  of  hope  and  rest  ;  but  lo, 
A  change  came  swift,  and  in  sardonyx  glow 

White  pureness  mingled  with  the  red  of  pain. 


m 


34 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Now  grew  the  light  like  jasper  purified, 

As  blood-red  sard  the  dawn  of  blessedness  ; 
Each  face  such  love  triumphant  did  confess, — 

**Here  heaven  is  begun  in  love,"    I  cried. 

But  straightway  higher  yet  the  spirit  willed, 
Where  golden  flushed  the  green  of  chrysolite, 
And  pale  blue  beryl  like  the  sky  was  bright, 

And  topaz  shone  with  sunlike  rapture  filled  ; 

Where  found  each  other  in  the  chrysoprase 
Azure  and  flame, — and  so  the  faces  shone 
As  if  'mid  peace  eternal  dawn  were  known 

Of  God's  exultant  joy,  that  held  their  gaze. 

Higher  I  rose  to  greet  the  purple  glow, — 
Words  fail,  as  water-drops  to  build  a  tower; 
The  jacinth  told  of  royal  Love  and  Power 

Past  understanding,  yet  I  felt  and  know. 

With  pulsing  waves  I  felt  the  purple  thrilled 

To  gleams  ineffable  of  amethyst  ; 

The  faces  near  like  dying  men  who  list 
The  music  of  the  heavens,  rapture-filled. 

A  moment  more,  my  dazzled  eyes  grew  dim. 
Unending  high  uprose  the  wall  of  white  ; 
I  gazed,  the  myriad  stones  so  flashing  bright 

Were  flitting  cherubs,  white-robed  seraphim. 

So  rhythmic-musical  they  moved,  methought 
To  catch  the  strain  ;  but  hearing  died  in  sight. 
For  one  came  nigh  so  spotless  robed  in  white, 

With  face  so  calm,  all  else  my  sense  forgot. 


THE  CITY  OF  GOD  35 

With  folded  hands  she  came,  and  downcast  eyes  ; 

Where  had  I  known  the  same  child-happy  grace  ? 

She  gazed  ;  I  knew  ;  then  radiant  grew  the  face, 
And  ours  was  joy  of  souls  that  recognize. 

Moments — or  ages — passed  ;  "  Declare,"  I  said, 
"The  mystery  of  colors,  how  I  came 
Up  to  the  light  through  first  the  jasper  flame 

And  last  where  amethyst  its  glory  shed," 

"  Behold  then  how  the  rainbow  pulses  beat 
From  violet,  etherial,  intense. 
More  slow  at  last  to  red,  as  if  with  sense 

Of  earthly  presence  that  the  waves  defeat  ; 


"  So  pulseth  ever  love  to  all  from  God, 

And  while  from  earthly  love  he  turns  man  knows 
Of  suffering,  but  love  in  pureness  grows 

To  ecstasy,  that  burns  out  from  the  clod. 

"The  city  hath  foundations,  and  above 

The  perfect  light  is  throbbing  from  the  throne  ; 
Man  dwells  on  earth  to  lay  each   precious   stone 

Of  his  foundation,  till  he  build  to  Love." 

We  passed  the  gate,  the  peace  did  hold  my   heart, 
A  boundless  tide  of  joy  my  being  filled  ; 
Harmonious  grown  with  light,  my  spirit  thrilled, 

I  was  as  great  as  all,  and  yet  a  part. 

Now  faint  and  far  the  strains  of  joy  forth-broke  ; 
"  God  is  our  life,  and  we  who  love  are  one — " 
Fading  her  voice,  a  darkness  had  begun  : 

O  Death,  O  Loss,  O  Bondage  ! — I  awoke. 


4i 

1 ' 


I 


36  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


MY  PAST 

I  STOOD  before  a  portal  vast 
Wherein  I  knew  there  lay  my  past, 
And  Memory  swung  it  wide,  aghast, 

Whenas  I  bade  her  let  me  to  my  palace-room. 
I  thought  of  robes  of  honor  fair, 
Garments  of  praise  and  jewels  rare 
Worn  by  my  good  deeds  living  there  ; 

But  lo  !     I  shuddered,  for  I  stood  as  in  a  tomb. 

The  robes  decayed  with  wet  and  mould, 
Like  cerements  did  my  deeds  enfold, 
And  tarnish  lay  upon  the  gold, 

Within  the  /oid  I  was  the  only  living  thing  ! 
With  newborn  shame  my  face  was  flushed, 
Forth  to  life's  day  again  I  rushed, 
My  loud-voiced  pride  forever  hushed  ; 

And  from  my  boasted  past  myself  is  all  I  bring. 


il 


SORROW 

So  long  he  walked  a  desert  bleak  and  bare 

No  added  grief  could  rouse  him  to  surprise  ;: 
And  one  was  with  him  in  unseemly  guise. 

Yet  gentle-voiced,  who  led  him  from  despair  ; 

He  knew  her  mantle  hid  a  face  most  fair. 
He  felt  the  veiled  glory  of  her  eyes, 
And  in  the  luxury  of  glad  surmise 

Forgot  his  weariness  and  all  his  care. 


AN  EXPOSTULATOR  OVFRIIKARD 


37 


At  length  uprose  a  portal  dark  before, — 

"  I  lead  thee  to  the  truth  ;  its  joy  is  thine  ;" 

Then  light  burst  forth  whenas  she  swung  the  door, 
And  so  celestially  her  face  did  shine 

His  heart  was  thrilled,  and  then  he  turned  to  go 

Joyward  reluctant,  for  he  loved  her  so. 


AN  EXPOSTULATOR  OVERHEARD 

Hither  and  forth  by  night  and  morn 

Fly  the  shuttles  in  Nature's  loom  ; 
From  God  the  spirit  of  life  is  born. 

But  yet  they  weave,  in  a  hidden  room, 
A  robe  the  life  to  adorn. 

And  lo,  when  spirit  and  form  unite, 
The  soul  of  a  man  before  Him  stands  ; 

*' Born  of  a  woman,"  to  human  sight. 

But  yet  as  a  gift  from  the  Father's  hands 

Have  come  both  the  life  and  light. 

You  mourn  that  the  bodily  powers  abate  ? 

'Tis  a  sign  the  spirit  is  nearing  a  birth. 
For  this  life  in  the  flesh  can  be  but  a  state  ; 

It  is  well  with  the  soul, — what 's  the  body  worth  ? 
Speak  thus  ;  and  reiterate  I 

An  apocalypse  will  come,  you  will  see  ; 

Why  should  the  hope  of  it  bring  you  dismay  ? 
I  glory  the  rather  in  that  which  shall  be. 


I 


II 


38 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


1 

\l 

\ 


k 


When  the  dross  and  the  slag  shall  be  cleft  away 
From  the  indivisible  me. 

But  what  is  this  "me"  that  men  argue  about — 
Who  of  them  all  knows  what  is  in  man  ? 

Yet  a  scheme  they  define,  and  the  hesitant  flout, 
Who  thinketh  God  hath  not  so  narrow  a  plan, — 

They  have  settled  the  question,  no  doubt  ! 

They  seek  to  discern  but  the  trace  of  a  sin, 
Its  genus  and  species  they  gravely  discuss  ; 

And  then  with  entomologist  pin 

They  prick  me  fast  to  their  card,  and  thus 

I'm  classed  with  iniquitous  kin. 

It  is  true  I  am  crusted  with  wrong  that  I  hate. 
But  the  law  that  I  love  how  can  they  see  ? 

This  love  will  increase,  and  the  error  abate. 

Till  the  crust  shall  vanish  ;  and  what  will  it  be. 

That  entity  ultimate  ? 

So,  after  all,  'tis  a  larger  task 

To  settle  the  question  of  me  and  mine  ; 

From  God  seek  the  answer  ;  of  man  do  not  ask, 
What  is  the  "me"  he  cannot  define, 

For  the  person  he  knows  is  a  mask  ; 

Behind,  undivided,  the  being,  the  whole 
Whose  limit  or  power  is  never  proclaimed  ; 

Through  Time  it  is  one  of  the  spheres  that  roll. 
Your  vapors  may  be  described  and  named. 

But  you  cannot  define  a  soul. 

From  God  it  came,  invisible  fire  ; 

He  alone  sees  through  and  around  the  sphere, 


AN  EXPOSTULATOR  OVERHEARD 


3^; 


And  that  which  shall  come  of  my  pregnant  desire  ; 

To  man's  dim  vision  hjw  can  it  appear, 
The  thing  to  which  I  aspire  ? 

Yet,  there 's  one  who  can  see,  for  a  friend  I  greet. 

Who  's  a  prophet  and   more  in   his  thought  of 
goodwill. 
He  knows  that  my  soul  shall  the  self  defeat, 

Till  Love  from  centre  to  limit  shall  thrill 
And  in  God  I  become  complete. 

Of  Him  is  the  soul,  a  heavenly  spark  ; 

The  Spirit  breathes  that  it  shine  more  bright. 
To  evidence  Him  'mid  the  world's  gross  dark. 

By  Love's  warm  glow,  and  by  Faith's  pure  light — 
But  ah,  how  we  miss  the  mark  ! 

We  all  seek  a  best ;  but  snares  are  set. 

Who  are  they  that  despise  the  fallen  one's  plight  ? 
He  is  learning  through  evil  what  good  is  ;  and  yet 

He  would  cease  to  do  ill,  and  joy  in  the  right. 
If  he  knew  but  their  alphabet. 

Though  he  strive  more  in  failing  than  they  to  suc- 
ceed, 

Yet  his  fall,  or  a  slip,  they  name  it  a  sin, — 
But  the  striving  at  last  to  glory  will  lead  ; 

Uncrowned  of  the  world,  by  his  love  he  may  win 
God's  crown  of  life  for  his  meed. 

They  condemn  for  one  error  who  never  have  tried 
To  aim  their  own  lives  at  the  noblest  mark  ; 

And  the  seeker  condemn  with  arrogant  pride 
Because  with  their  little  measure,  and  arc, 

He  can  not  be  satisfied. 


40 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


But,  if  love  for  the  Father  his  heart  possess, 
And  love  for  his  brother  be  shown  in  his  deed. 

And  they  still  condemn  for  the  more  or  the  less 
Of  doctrine  they  find  in  his  varia.-^t  creed. 

Hate  they  not  without  cause  ?    Confess  ! 

The  King's  design — they  know  it  so  well  !  — 
Is  to  gather  a  courtier  here  and  there, 

Who  amid  palatial  joys  may  dwell 

In  light  ;   while  blackness  of  all  despair 

For  the  multitude  in  hell. 

They  are  His  courtiers,  so  they  say  ; 

And  proudly  from  the  touch  they  shrink 
Of  the  sinner  who  walks  the  same  highway  ; 

Accursed  of  God  is  he,  they  think. 
But  themselves  in  favor  alway. 

A  king  there  was  who  sought  the  best 

For  him  who  was  saddest  and  most  in  need  ; 

And  the  few  he  chose  were  to  help  the  rest 
By  loving  word,  and  by  helpful  deed. 

That  the  kingdom  might  be  blessed. 

Is  the  King  of  all  less  wise  than  he  ? 

He  chooseth  not  a  narrow  sect  ; 
But  so  all  people  his  love  may  see. 

From  every  tongue  there  are  some  select 
Who  channels  of  love  shall  be. 


They  are  not  the  elect,  with  the  satisfied  air, 
And  the  frown  of  contempt  for  the  poor  and  the 
weak. 
But  they  who  have  bowed  in  Gethsemane-prayer  ; 


AN  EXPOSTULATOR  OVERHEARD 


41 


And  though,  from  the  world,  bread  only  they  seek, 
The  scorn-hurtled  stone  is  their  share. 


By  the  load  they  have  borne,  by  the  languor  and 
pain. 
They  learn  to  be  one  with   the   great    human 
heart  ; 
Dethroning  ambition,  they  open  a  fane 

For  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  and  of  true  life  a  part 
For  humanity  dying  they  gain. 

And  thus  they  lay  down  their  lives  for  their  friends, 
For  all   they  count  friends  of   their  help    who 
have  need. 
Their  love  makes  for  enemies'  hatred  amends  ; 
And  abode  with  the   Father-love  v^rill  be  their 
meed. 
When  on  earth  all  their  love-labor  ends. 


ill 


So,  'tis  best  to  defer.      What  is  there  to  show 
To  man  the  hidden  springs  of  the  heart  ? 

God  knows  where  the  fountains  of  true  love  flow  ; 
We'll   discern,    I    am   sure,    when    the   shadows 
depart, 

More  of  God's  sons  than  we  know. 


1888, 


The  rivers  hasten  to  their  ocean  rest, — 
As  to  their  channels  tributaries  run. 

So  men,  from  north  and  south  and  east  and   west, 
Shall  come  tO  peace,  by  brother-love  made  one. 


'll 


f  r 


42 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


i 


GIFTS   IN  SLEEP 

Thy  building  thou  wouldst  have  all  men  extol, 

But  it  is  God  alone  can  edify,* — 

With  endless  skill  thine  art  thou  mayest  ply, 
With  peering  eyes  search  ancient  law  and  scroll, 
And  mete  thyself  of  sleep  a  meagre  dole. 

Rising  to  toil  at  dawn  with  deep-drawn  sigh, 

Taking  so  late  thy  rest,  but  not  thereby 
Comes  growth  and  life's  enlargement  to  thy  soul. 

Why  do  thy  wakeful  burning  eyes  refuse 
The  balm  and  healing  of  His  nightly  dews? 

For  growth  and  strength  what  need  to  pray 
and  weep 
When  it  is  thine  if  thou  wilt  only  choose  ? 
Rest  in  His  love,  no  weary  vigil  keep, 
"He  giveth  unto  His  beloved  in  sleep  !  " 


LIVING 

,  *Tis  wasteful  building  castles  in  the  air, 

And  of  what  good  may  hap  to  make  surmise  ; 
Think  thou  in  thine  own  lite  what  can  be  fair, 
And  so  to  have  it  let  thy  heart  devise. 

Wealth  be  for  thee  in  narrowing  of  need  ; 
And  as  a  gift  from  God  thy  Father's  hand 


*  Note  the  derivation  of  this  word,  and  compare  Psalm  cxxvii. 


THE  CRIPPLE 


43 


Take  thou  all  good  that  comes,  not  as  thy  meed, 
So  thou  His  perfect  peace  shalt  understand. 

Thine  art  be  thy  reward  ;   seek  thou  no  name, 

Lest,  like  Icarus  flying  to  the  sun, 
Thy  waxen  wings  of  temporary  fame 

Shall  melt  away  and  life  be  all  undone. 

Make  thine  ideal  sacred,  follow  thou. 
And  for  her  sake  do  never  less  than  best  ; 

With  gold  and  gem  she  will  not  crown  thy  brow 
But  with  twined  olive-leaves  of  calm  and  rest. 

Not  for  mere  wages  of  thy  work  to  seek, 
But  rather  wages  of  true  life  to  choose, — 

This  is  the  better  part  man  may  bespeak 
And  so  have  gain  wherein  he  seems  to  lose. 


'  r 


THE   CRIPPLE 


(.1  V    — 

Oh  yes,  I  get  tired  of  the  heat,  of  counting  the  flies 
on  the  wall, 
For  the  fields  are  green  outside,  I  can  see  through 
the  open  door  ; 
The  children  shout  at  their  play  and  I'd  like  to 
answer  their  call, 
But  here   I  am  just  as  happy,  why   Mother,  I 
think,  far  more  ! 


<! 


44 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


• 


ii 


!       ■ ! 


If  I  were  to  run  and  play  would  I  talk  so  much 
with  God  ? 
Do  you  know,  He  sits  beside  me,  just  as  Father 
used  to  do, — 
You  weii'  la.       Ight  where  he  lies,  are  the  flowers 
come  up  in  the  sod  ? 
Was  it  not  good  of  ''our  Father"  that  He  should 
have  left  us  you  ? 

You  make  my  brow   so  cool  when  you  wipe  the 
drops  avr  I), 
And  t'^en  wh<  n  you    u  n  the  pillow  it  feels  so 
fresh  to  my  li  ^d  ; 
With  your  fingers  smootniag  ,  .^  Mair, —  O  Mother, 
you  must  not  say, 
"Poor  boy,  I  pity  you,  dear  ;    I  would  bear   the 
pain  instead." 

Put  your  head  low  down,  on  my  breast,  (I'd  rather 
not  look  in  her  eyes) 
Why,  don't  you  remember  saying  that  I  was  the 
son  of  a  King  ? 
It 's  the  people  who  make  mistakes,  who  have  fallen 
and  will  not  rise. 
You  know  we  must  pity  them  ;    but  I  have  of 
joy  to  sing. 

'Twould  be  worse  than  lost  in  the  desert,  I  think, 
if  I  had  not  known. 
But  now  in  a  beautiful  room  of  his  palace  He 
makes  me  dwell  ; 
And  I  feel  the  love  so  near,  yet  as  if  but  the  half 
were  shown. 
Like  Jem    with  a  book  to  read    who  has  only 
learned  to  spell. 


THE  CRIPPLE 


45 


From  the  others  he  takes  me  away  to  make  me  His 
very  own  ; 
Perhaps,  don't  you  think , . .  when  you  pity. .  .'tis 
as  if  the  King  could  do  wrong? 
It  is  hard  enough  to  bear,  but  he  leaves  me  never 
alone. 
What  is  the  text — you  know  it — the  one  about 
"night"  and  a'^song"? 


He  seems  so  tender  at  night,  you  know  I  have  you 
all  the  day  ; 
He  has  promised  me  strength  when  I  languish,  so 
I  ask  Him  to  make  my  bed, 
For  sometimes  I  think  it  is  hard,  and  I  wish  the 
night  were  away. 
Then  I  seem  to   be  lifted  a  moment  to  rest  in 
His  arms  instead. 

You  think  of  the  weight  at  my  foot  when  you  wake 
with  the  pulley's  creak, 
And  I  hear  your  dear  voice  calling,  "You  are  not 
at  rest,  my  boy  ;" 
My  heart  would  like  to  explain,  but  it 's  not  the 
time  to  speak, 
I  say,  "I  am  not  asleep,"  but  I  mean,  "awake  for 
joy." 


HI 

m 
I.  I 

■I 


?*■■ 
Ms" 


m 


i- 


For   the  Shepherd  comes  so  near  that  I  feel  his 

arms  enfold  ; 

He  whispers  about  "Our  Father,"  and  how  He 

has  loved  the  sheep, —  [told  ? 

Oh,  love  of  the  heavenly  Father,  how  can  it  ever  be 

When  He  speaks  so  clear,  O  Mother,  'twould  be 

sacril'^ge  to  sleep  ! 


rv-bl 


w 


■   \i:t:m 


46 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


EVIL 


I 

1 


As  senseless  as  the  brine-soaked  log 

That  night  and  day,  through  shine  and  fog, 

Hears  not  the  endless  dialogue 

Between  the  moaning  ocean  and  the  spirit  breeze, 
So  is  the  man  who  cannot  hear 
The  sighs  and  prayers  that  like  a  mere 
The  human  soul  unto  God's  ear 

Doth  raise,  the  while    He  answers  back   in  har- 
monies. 


"The  good  is  weak  and  evil  strong, 
Feast  well  to-day,  we  die  ere  long," 
Thus  doth  he  sing  his  hopeless  song 

Who  findeth  not  God's  fire  within  the  human  clay  ; 
He  knoweth  not  at  His  behest 
That  good  may  come  in  shadow  dressed. 
And  men  call  evil  what  is  best, — 

For  stings  are  good  which  drive  from  darkness  to 
the  day. 

Of  good  there  is  no  mine  or  thine, 

The  source  of  all  is  the  Divine, 

Who  worketh  not  by  undesign  ; 
The  wrong  our  self  createth  He  for  good  can  sway  ; 

And  where  our  sin  is  growing  rife 

By  evil,  like  a  pruning  knife, 

'Tis  death  He  severeth,  not  life. 
And  fruitful  branches  gain  by  withered  cut  away. 


A  SONG  OF  THE  DAWNING  47 


A  SONG  OF  THE  DAWNING 

Men,  my  brothers,  noble-hearted,  ye  who  are, 
have  been,  shall  be. 

Ye  who  hate  the  thought  ignoble,  ye  whose  com- 
rades are  the  free, 

Greeting  send  I  o'er  the  ages,  holding  to  you  joy- 
ous hands. 

For  redemption  draweth  nearer  from  all  adver- 
sary-bands. 

And  the  message  of  glad-tidings  bringeth  peace 
to  all  the  lands. 


^1 


Lo,  an  army  is  advancing,  not  with  beat  of  throb- 
bing drum, 

Not  with  banners  proudly  waving  do  the  happy 
myriads  come. 

But  their  hearts  athrob  with  loving,  eyes  with  love 
that  shine  sincere  ; 

And  they  sing  aloud  in  anthem  that  the  rule  of 
peace  is  here. 

Swords  are  beaten  into  ploughshares,  into  pruning- 
hooks  the  spear.    ■ 

War  is  over  and  forgotten,  relic  of  a  savage  age, 

Man  hath  learned  to  help  his  brother,  not  to  slay 
him  in  his  rage  ; 

And  the  loving  hearts  that  taught  him,  mother, 
sister,  daughter,  wife. 

Saved  him  from  his  lust  and  avarice,  never  falter- 
ed in  the  strife, 

Enter  with  him  the  millennium,  into  newness  of 
true  life. 


tf 


{*  ;i 


i^'^^ 


b!  -si 


48 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


O  ye  saviours  of  the  world,  slain  by  sword,  or  held 

in  chains, 
Ye  of  whom  earth  was  not  worthy,  yet  from  whom 

her  highest  gains, 
Ye  who  were  the  Lord's  anointed,  fruit  of  travail 

ye  shall  see  ; 
What  and  if  ye  bore  the  torture^  Truth  is  born  of 

agony, 
And  behold,  the  morning  breaketh  of  the  day  ye 

said  would  be  ! 


,•  >! 


Even  now  the  light-spires  dazzle  and  the  note  of 
Hope  is  heard, 

Man  is  learning  God's  new  language,  building  let- 
ters to  a  word  ; 

And  the  counsels  men  have  darkened  come  like 
jewels  flashing  bright 

As  he  trusts  the  voice  within  him  and  the  Spirit 
gives  him  sight ; 

And  the  promise  nears  fulfilment  that  the  world 
shall  see  the  light. 


Then  the  hell  of  creed-born  hatreds  shall  no  long- 
er fume  and  smoke, 

Nor  the  wolfish-eyed  self-seeker  hide  him  with 
religion's  cloak  ; 

For  to  men  shall  come  the  kingdom,  and  within 
their  hearts  shall  be 

Love  enthroned  for  God  the  Father,  and  for  all 
men  charity ; — 

So  the  light-filled  drops  together  are  a  wide  exul- 
tant sea. 


.  M 


A  SONG  OF  THE  DAWNING 


4'> 


Then  the  tumult  of  the  teachers  shall  have  heard 
God's  "  Peace  be  still," 

For  that  men  shall  know  of  doctrine  as  they  da 
the  Father's  will, 

As  for  righteousness  they  labor,  setting  heaven's 
kingdom  first  ; 

And  the  mothers  shall  be  honored  who  the  hero- 
men  have  nursed. 

Shall  not  know  of  man  as  tyrant  nor  by  slavery  be 
cursed. 

Let  us  help  emancipation  and  the  time  of  mercy, 
when, 

'Mong  the  rulers  in  our  councils  shall  be  mothers 
of  us  men, — 

Open  harem  and  zenana  ;  where  the  shadows  over- 
brood 

Woman  held  plaything  or  captive,  teach  that  God 
sends  equal  good. 

Equal  freedom,  equal  honor,  by  the  right  of  Human- 
hood. 

First,  redemption   of  the  body,  lest  the  truth  be 
/  held  in  scorn  ; 

Every  soul  its  earthly   birthright,  to  be  well  and 

nobly  born, — 
Then  like  Queens  shall  be  the  daughters,  and  the 

sons  to  Heroes  grow. 
Limbs  be  fair,  and  joints  be  supple,  highest  thought 

the  faces  know, 
And  the  white  flame  of  the  spirit  in  a  holy  temple 

glow. 


m 


mk  \\ 


m 


\  V 


50 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Ye  who  hold  each  man  a  brother,  for  the  brother- 
love  of  Christ, 

Who  with  clear-eyed  Purity  do  keep  in  heart  a 
daily  tryst, 

Let  me  grasp  the  hand  fraternal,  one  in  love  and 
service  we  ; 

Now,  as  in  a  mirror  darkly,  face  to  face  we  yet 
shall  see  ; 

Fellow-workers  with  the  Father,  let  us  fellow- 
helpers  be  ! 


mmmmi 


}  1' 


Whi/e  bird- song  makes  the  ^uihi-wood  echoes  ring,. 
None  but  the  poet  heareth,  lorn,  the  cry 
Of  some  pathetic  voice,  that  may  not  vie 

To  sivell  the  song,  but  undertone  doth  sing  j 

And  when  from  rocky  cavern  echoing 

The  chorus  of  the  7vaves  doth  swell  and  die. 
Their  dirge  and pcean,  song  of  mirth  and  sigh,. 

In  perfect  chord  he  heareth  marrying. 

'  Tis  his  to  know  what  meanings  interblcnd 
With  words  and  cadence  of  the  song  of  life  ; 

The  heart  of  man  he  knoweth  as  a  friend, 
Good  in  his  wildness,  kindness  in  his  strife, — 

Vaster  than  ocean's  moaning,  he  hath  known 

Within  one  human  soul  the  undertone. 


m 


A  VOICE  READING 

Winter  was  moaning,  'gainst  the  pane  was  sifted 
Dust  of  the  snow,  and  welcome  was  the  fire  ; 

Then    blazed    the    sunlight    o'er    the    snowfields 
drifted, 
Dimmed  on  the  hearth  the  leaping  flame's  desire. 

Flowers  by  the  window  in  his  beams  were  glowing. 
Crimson  the  cactus  'neath  the  fronded  palm, 

5parse-leaved  hibiscus  stars  of  red  flame  showing; 
White  shone  the  lily,  happy  in  her  calm. 

Entered  a  lady,  children  trooping  after. 

Gathered  them  birdlike,  blossoms  made  the  nest; 

Crladder  the  room  with  sound  of  merry  laughter. 
Even  the  flame  purred,  happiness  confest. 

■"Sintram"  the  tale  (by  kind  old  Germon  Fouque) 
How  love  and  faith  the  clouds  of  sin  dispel, — 

Level  as  a  prairie,  here  and  there  a  bouquet. 
Love  of  Sir  Fo'ko,  love  of  Gabrielle. 

Ah,  subtle  voice,  whose  melody  was  filling 
Joy-rich  the  room,  like  song  of  waking  bird, 

Lo,  all  his  being  answered  to  your  thrilling. 
Trembled  as  lute  when  singer's  voice  is  heard. 

53 


ii 


\  r 


54 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Dreaming  he  heard  of  spear  on  armor  clashing, 

Charged  forth  exultant,  mingled  with  the  fight,.. 
Proud  in  the  forefront  swift  his  brand  was  flashing,. 

Gift  of  the  queen  who  made  him  her  true  knight- 
Hair  coiled  of  golden  crowned  her  with  a  glory, 

Queen  by  divine  right,  all  men  homage  paid  ; 
He  but  an  esquire,  'twas  like  fairy  story 

When  by  her  hand  the  accolade  was  laid. 


HIS  FIRST  TOURNEY  REMEMBERED 

A  knight  new-made^  ivith  untried  blade, — 

The  heralds  gave  the  word ; 
The  Queen  was  there,  '  mid  faces  fair, 
But  mist  mine  eyesight  blurred. 
With  fear,  I  entered  slowly, 
I  bowed  before  her  lotvly, 
I  felt  her  presence  holy. 
Courage  anew  then  thrilled  me  ; 
I  dared  to  look, 
She  smiled. 
My  heart  that  had  been  icild  with  lovCy 
Yea  oft  had  been  beguiled  with  lo7'e. 
Became  the  heart  of  a  child,  rvith  loi<e 
As  pure  as  crystal  brook. 

Then  vanished  fear,  my  sight  greic  clear, 

A  strong  arm  sivung  my  brand  ; 
She  gave  the  prize,  she  hath  heaven-blue  eyeSy. 
My  lips  have  touched  her  hand. 

What  knight,  though  he  be  hoary ^ 
Gained  ever  greater  glory  ? 
More  famous  who,  in  story  ? 


A  VOICE  READING  55. 

While  wonder  of  it  filled  vie 
Flowed  forth  delight 
In  song  ; 
His  good  s7vord  rights  the  wrong,  for  love, 
His  pure  heart  brims  with  song,  for  loir. 
Who  ^mid  the  loyal  throng,  for  love. 
Is  the  pure  Queen's  trusted  knight. 

Sudden,  like  sleeper  from  a  dream,  he  started, 
Listened  the  words  and  cadence  of  the  voice. 

Heard  of  Montfaucon,  ever  loyal-hearted, 
Loving  so  purely,  angels  might  rejoice. 

Straightway  he  dreamed  the  lover's  holy  passion^. 

Gabrielle  visioned  with  the  inner  sight. 
Sought,  in  his  mood,  some  lover-song  to  fashion. 

Sung  to  his  lady  by  the  blameless  knight. 


SONG  OF  SIR  FOLk'O 

What  7uere  tie  fight  icorth. 

If  thou  7vert  not  caring  ? 
What  7vere  thy  knight  worth 
If  thou  jmert  not  sharing, 
With  heart  throbbing  eager,  his  noble  emprise  ? 
He  is  braver  than  ten,  through  the  loz<e  in  thine  eyes  /' 

What  would  be  fame  worth. 

If  thou  wert  not  caring  ( 
What  were  my  name  worth 
If  thou  xvert  not  sharing 
The  glory  without  thee  I  ne'er  would  desire  ? 
I  but  utter  and  do  what  thou  dost  inspire. 


f  ili 


■56 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


What  were  the  strife  worth, 

If  thou  wert  not  caring  ? 
What  would  be  life  worth 
If  thou  wert  not  sharing, 
My  Sunlight,  my  Ltme-  Queen,  its  every  delight  ? 
*  T7c<as  dark  ere  thy  dawning,  7i07c>  evermore  bright  / 


Singing,  his  heart  was  for  the  moment  gladdened  ; 

What  if  such  pleading  should  be  not  in  vain  ? 
But,  like  the  cold  wind,  came  the  truth  that  sad- 
dened,— 

Firm-pressed  the  pale  lips,  silent  with  their  pain. 

Yet  in  his  heart  the  dulcet  name  was  rhyming. 
Seemed  as  of  right  belonging  to  the  voice  ; 

While  from  the  village  came  a  slow  bell's  chiming, 
Joined  with  the  tone  that  made  each  pulse  re- 
joice. 

GABRIELLE 

'  Tis  the  sound  of  a  silver-toned  bell : 

Ga  brie  lie, — 
And  a  gladness  the  chime  doth  foretell, 

Gabrielle  ; 
As  music  that  thrilled  once,  floats  back  to  the  mind. 
And  tells  of  a  Joy  yet  to  grasp,  yet  to  find. 
So  thy  name  seems  to  come  on  the  wind, 

Gabrielle  f 

I  find  in  its  musical  swell, 

Gabrielle, 

A  charm  evil  passions  to  quell, 

Gabrielle  ; 


A  VOICE  READING 

When  I  utter  thy  name  all  the  might  is  destroyed 
Of  the  gibbering  shapes  in  the  dark  that  annoyed, 
And  they  flit  back  again  to  the  void, 

Gabrielle  ! 

Thy  name  holds  my  heart  by  a  spell, 

Gabrielle, 
In  my  life  the  sweet  music  shall  dwell, 

Gabrielle  ; 
As  one  with  a  vision  celestial  in  sight. 
The  vision  of  love  hath  redoubled  my  might, 
And  my  eyes  mirror  heavenly  light, 

Gabrielle  ! 


57 


i 


What  if  on  earth  his  love  be  unrequited, 
He  die  forgot,  nor  know  the  fond  caress. 

Quote  not  the  world,  that  so  the  life  is  blighted  ; 
God's  gift  of  love  doth  ever  come  to  bless  ! 

Subtle  its  fire,  the  passions  low  have  perished. 
Opened  to  heaven,  holy  is  the  fane  ; 

She  who  hath  entered,  purity  hath  cherished. 
Go  if  she  must,  can  memory  be  slain  ? 


If 


i 


m 


A   CONFESSIOy 

My  soul  ivas  turbulent  and  strong, 
Like  river-flood  that  roars  along 
Befouled  with  all  its  victories  ; 
M^hat  was  a  shame,  I  counted  praise, — 
Thou  knewest  not  those  ei'il  days, 

Gabrielle  / 

For  thou  hadst  ponver  such  peace  to  make. 
As  if  the  stream  became  a  lake 


It 


i-   n 


i; 


58 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

W/ierein  the  foulness  fell  from  sight. 

Till  through  and  through  might  gleam  the 

light  ; 
With  thee  my  soul  doth  walk  in  ichitc, 

Gabrielle  ! 


Within  my  heart  thou  mayest  look, 
Naught  from  thee  hides,  in  farthest  nook  ; 
One  mirrored  there  thou  mayest  see 
To  7vhom  obedient  I  must  be, — 
For  thy  commands  are  worthy  thee, 

Gabrielle  ! 

Childlike  you  crave  to  have  the  story  ended, 
Hold  fast  my  fingers  lest  I  close  the  book, — 

Ho\y  can  I  tell  of  love  and  pain  that  blended 
Under  the  surface,  where  no  eyes  may  look  ? 

Yet  it  is  mine  to  magnify  Love's  glory, 

Make  all  the  world  to  fall  in  love  with  Love  ; 

Hear  then  my  song,  your  ending  of  the  story, — 
Endless  for  them,  whose  life  is  from  above. 


"Truthfully,"  wrote  she  ; 

And  thus  began  the  bond. 
For  naught  in  truth  could  he 

But  "Faithfully"  respond. 

'*  In  thee  I  put  my  trust — " 

Her  head  upon  his  breast  ; 
"Thy  love  is  my  heart's  rest, 

If  I  fail,  heaven  must !" 


SUNRISE 

She  kissed  him  on  the  brow, 

And  made  him  her  true  knight  ; 
Then  flashed  his  sword  in  light, 

And  Heaven  heard  the  vow  : 

"No  power  can  e'er  divide 
My  maiden  from  my  side  ; 
No  enemy  can  mar, 
My  good  sword  reacheth  far  ; 
King  Death  can  not  dispart, 
For  we  are  pure  in  heart, 
And  God  for  endless  life 
Hath  made  us  man  and  wife  !" 

Thus  heaven  on  earth  they  gain, 
Since  "True  and  Loving"  she  ; 

Immortal  are  the  twain, 

For  "Alwavs  Faithful  "  he. 


59 


SUNRISE 

Dim-gray  is  the  sky  ere  the  morning-dawn, 

Ere  the  flower  of  day  unfold  ; 
The  starry  gleams  of  the  night  are  gone. 

And  the  morning  wind  blows  cold. 
But  whence  yon  gleam  of  joy  that  came 

To  the  earth  that  looked  wan  and  old  ? 
Lo,  a  flower-heart  of  burning  flame. 

And  petals  of  shining  gold  ! 


f 


6o 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Ml! 


f 


11 


Asleep,  asleep,  was  a  maiden's  heart. 

In  a  star-lit  dream  she  lay, 
Till  hands  in  the  silence  drew  apart 

The  veil  of  the  cloud  wreaths  gray  ; 
A  joyous  start,  a  throb,  a  thrill, 

Then  she  awoke  straightway — 
In  her  glorified  life  is  no  darkness  or  ill 

Since  burst  into  bloom  the  dav. 


EXPOSTULATION 

Callest  it  "duty," 

So  wilt  not  come  ? 
Fading  is  beauty. 

Lips  will  grow  dumb. 

Youth  comes  but  one  time, 

Joy  in  it.  Dear  ; 
Now  is  thy  sun-time. 

Blossoms  are  here. 

Spring  smiles  in  gladness, 

Why,  Love,  delay 
Till  in  dim  sadness 

Thou  seekest  lost  May  ? 

"To  Spring-woods  hasting 
Showers  may  drip  ?" 

Youth  hath  for  v;^asting 
Warmth  at  the  lip  ! 


A  STORY  IN  THREE  VOICES 

Braving  the  showers 

Fear  thou  no  chill ; 
Sunlight  and  flowers 

Follow  "  I  will." 

Prudence  cold-hearted 

Shivering  at  fire, 
Would  keep  us  parted, 

Quench  out  desire. 

Then,  be  together, 

Head  bowed  with  head — 
Autumn's  chill  weather, 

Youth's  passion  dead. 

Grand-dame  hath  kindness, 

Wise  for  the  past ; 
Wiser  is  blindness, 

Love  first  and  last ! 


6 1 


A  STORY  IN  THREE  VOICES 


I.    IN  A   PARLOR 

One's  bad  luck  comes  like  a  turn  in  the  tide  ; 

At  the  archery  meet,  when  a  point  would  do. 
My  luck  to  lose  the  prize  for  our  side  ; 

I  was  sure  of  a  centre  at  least  when  I  drew, 
But,  how  could  I  make  a  wide  ? 

And  then,  that  lover  I  thought  to  win. 
My  luck  to  make  just  as  bad  a  miss  ; 


6a  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

The  spice  of  the  game  is  the  taste  of  sin — 
In  a  madhouse  you  said  ?     I  thought  not  of 
this  ; 
How  dreadful  a  place  to  be  in  ! 

It  is  gay  to  hold  in  your  hand  a  heart  ; 

He  trusted  me,  had  no  other  way. 
Loved  her  ?     I  've  seen  a  teardrop  start 

When  I  told  that  she  spoke  of  him  once  in  a 
day, 
While  the  cold  fates  held  them  apart. 

She  was  taken  over  the  sea  to  forget  ; 

No  word  to  him,  but  my  pen  was  free. 
He  taught  me  his  love, — 'twere  a  prize  to  get  ; 

Why  send  such  rare  gold  across  the  sea  ? 
Let  her  find  more  there,  and  yet  .  .  . 

He  met  my  friend  in  his  courteous  way  ; 

Why,  grown  attentive,  so  soon,  'twas  plain  ! 
Was  merely  kind,  but  easy  to  say. 

The  parting  past,  had  outgrown  the  pain  ; 
Men  always  can  do  that  way. 

What  if  to  die  of  their  love  they  swore. 
And  if  in  a  year  they  were  wed,  what  sin  ? 

I  had  no  mind  for  the  three  or  four 

So  fair-cheeked  apples,  some  worm  within  ; 

But  this,  that  was  sound  to  the  core — 

She  first, — but  what  if  the  first  be  lost — 
Better  the  second  may  be  i'  the  end  ; 

Of  her  vagrant  joys  does  he  count  the  cost, 
What  will  he  say  to  some  wondering  friend 

She  may  greet  with  her  hair  all  tossed  ? 


A  STORY  IN  THREE  VOICES  63 

But  I  wrote  a  hint  more  plain  than  was  need 
Of  my  friend  and  him,  and  the  way  of  men, 

Which  her  mother  saw,  let  her  vainly  plead — 
The  husband  is  not  what  he  might  be,  when 

The  pride  of  the  house  you  read. 

His  grief  was  wild  as  a  tempest  gust. 

But  then  the  sooner  to  overblow  ; 
A  year  would  I  wait,  I  thought,  if  I  must — 

Insane  you  said  ?     How  could  I  know 
Such  prick  were  a  deadly  thrust  ? 

The  best  will  mistake —  there's  a  knock  at  the 
door  ! 
O  the  gorgeous  flowers  I    And  a  note  I   Just 
think  : 
"My  dear  one — loving  you  more  and  more — " 

A  boat  will  do  if  your  proud  ship  sink  ; 
But  I  used  to  count  him  a  bore. 

'Tis  Hamlet  to-night  ;  dear  me,  he  has  deigned 
To  ask  us  both — you  're  tired,  are  you  not  ? 

You  would  not  care  to  see  madness  feigned  ! 
Well,  I  —  such  a  shock  my  poor  nerves  have 
got— 

Really  need  to  be  entertained  ! 


''H 
ft' 


;- 11 


y 


II.    IN  A  CELL 

They  know  I  must  open  my  windows  wide 
For  the  song  of  birds  and  the  scent  of  the  trees. 

I  starve  for  the  light  that  I  see  outside  ; 

Could  that  be  a  wild-beast's  voice  that  cried  ? 
'Tis  well  I  am  fenced  by  the  bars  from  these. 


64  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

In  the  sunset  glow  I  sat — last  night — 

And  my  heart  to  God  in  a  rapture  went  ; 
A  letter,  they  laid  it  down  in  my  sight, 
Let  me  add  its  wealth  to  my  soul's  delight — 
Maybe  she  has  written  to  give  consent  ! 

But  what  ?    I  am  "  fickle  as  well  as  vain — " 

My  friend  tells  whom  I  am  trying  to  wed — 
She  is  glad  that  "now  there  will  be  no  pain," 
For  soon  by  one  come  of  ancient  strain 
From  the  altar  steps  will  my  Love  be  led — 

Quick,  from  the  window  leap,  for  there 
They  will  do  a  crime  in  a  holy  name  ! 
Out  in  the  churchyard  the  guests  prepare. 
So  still  they  stand,  so  white  they  stare, 

Do  they  guess  how  this  is  a  deed  of  shame  ? 

O  life-long  link  to  a  corpse  that  ties, 

For   the   white    flame  of   God    escaped    long 
since — 
My  pure  one  thus  to  the  foul  for  a  prize, 
They  are  ghouls  to  delight  in  the  sacrifice — 
"Love,  honor,  obey — "  did  I  see  her  wince  ? 

Loud,  loud,  *'  I  forbid  ! "     But  he  turns  with  a 
sneer, 
Away  from   the   throng  he  has  dragged  her 
hand  ; 
Ho,  follow  and  slay  me  that  devilish  leer  ! 
She  is  mine,  never  his  ;  by  the  gods,  do  you  hear  ? 
Like  silent  fools  do  the  white  guests  stand  ! 


iiliiiii 


A  STORY  IN  THREE  VOICES 


(^S- 


I  ran — how  was  it,  a  blow,  or  a  fall  ? 

0  weathercock  brain   that  the   wild   thoughts 

twirl  ! 
Why  this  is  the  church  ;  but  where  are  they  all  ? 
Ho,  sexton,  need  you  a  louder  call  ? 

What  more  than   myself  'gainst   the  door  ta 

hurl  ! 

'Twas  enough  to  make  any  true  man  rave, 

They  had  made  a  cage,  but  it  lacked  a  bar. 
And  this  my  friend  in  her  letter  gave  ; 
So  they  made  my  queen  of  the  world  a  slave — 

1  could  climb,  to  save  her,  from  star  to  star  ! 


You  will  never  again  do  so  foul  a  thing  ; 

I  have  twisted  to  death  that  fair  false  throat. 
As  the  huntsman  the  neck  of  his  bird  doth  wring 
Ere  it  rustle  away  on  a  broken  wing — 

Could  my  fall  so  tear  into  shreds  my  coat  ? 

Did  I  think  to  kill  ?     Nay,  it  is  not  mine  ; 

Vengeance  belongeth,  O  God,  to  thee  ; 
Pardon  thy  child  in  thy  love  divine — 
Oh,  there  is  my  Love,  and  her  garments  shine  ! 

She  sails  in  a  cloud,  from  over  the  sea. 


T/ie  bells  they  ring, 

Ding-dong,  dong-ding  ; 
The  bells  they  clash  in  a  Joyful  chime  ! 
Her  dear  hands  cling, 

And  my  heart  doth  sing  ; 
Let  the  7Vorld  be  glad  for  our  wedding-time  / 


66  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

The  slow  bells  toll^ 

God  rest  her  soul  ! 
Weep  tears,  all  the  earth  ;  let  the  ocean  moan  ! 
Oh,  the  hitter  dole, 

Death  take  the  whole, 
'  Tis  a  worse  than  death  if  I  live  alone  ! 


Let  me  forth  to  her  grave,  just  there,  outside  ; 

Too  early  is  ringing  that  morning  chime, 
Ere  the  girls  bring  flowers  that  she  loved,  my 

Bride, 
In  their  bloom  again  my  face  I  would  hide. 

And  thank  God  there,  for  our  happy  time. 

How  have  they  bolted  this  oaken  door — 
The  window  there,  but  how  will  I  climb  ? 

This  table  somehow  is  fast  to  the  floor  ; 

Burst  you,  twist  you,  one  wrenching  more — 
O  breath  of  the  world  at  morning  time  ! 

Bless  God  for  the  light,  and  his  gift  of  eyes  ; 
For  the  green  field's  peace,  and  the  dawn's  red 
spears  ; 
For  the  diamond  sea  under  cloudless  skies. 
Like  an  opal  under  the  night  it  lies — 

'Tis  the  roar  of  the  sea  that  sounds  in  mine 
ears. 


/  sin^  by  the  waves  of  the  glancing  sea 

A  song  of  joy  for  the  love  I  knon'  ; 
A  morning  song  by  the  sunlit  sea, 

To  the  plash  of  the  7C'a7'es,  as  they  ebb  and  flow. 


A  STORY  IN  THREE  VOICES 


67 


The  waves  were  strong  and  their  hearts  ivere  bold 
Last  night,  7vhen  the  shrieking  wind  did  bhnv  ; 

They  thought  my  life  was  a  prey  to  hold — 
But,  what  of  the  sea  and  its  undertow  .' 

I  smile,  and  sing  by  the  loud  sea-shore 

My  song  of  Joy  for  the  love  I  kmm\ 
My  deathless  song  by  the  loud  sea-shore, 

For  my  loving  never  can  ebb  and  flow  ; 
The  sea  will  be  gone  like  a  drop  sun-dried, 

And  the  rocks  in  their  sea-green  calm  below 
Will  melt  in  the  fire  lohcn  the  earth  hath  died  ; 

But  I  never  can  change,  I  have  loved  thee  so  ! 


Up  from  the  sea  flies  a  bat-winged  shape 

With  cold  hawk-eyes  of  the  cruel  heart  ; 
That  yell  again  ? — from  the  beak  agape — 
There  's  the  twang  of  a  bow — is  there  no  escape  ? 
O  letter  blood-dabbled  that  feathered  the  dart ! 


Moan,  moan,  moan. 

Far  out  in  the  night,  O  Sea  ! 
Mourn  thy  grief  to  a  thousand  shores. 
Wrestle  with  fate  when  the  tempest  roars- 
Yet  thou  art  a  babe  to  me. 


Thy  night  will  pass  ;  in  the  sunlight  thou 

Wilt  prattle  again  in  glee  ; 
Forever  my  trembling  lips  must  moan. 
So  old  my  life  with  a  grief  is  grown. 

Thou  art  only  a  babe,  O  Sea  ! 


iS 


68 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Mi; 


( 1 1 


Mine  eyes  are  like  deserts  of  crusted  brine, 

In  the  glare  of  the  thought  that  flames  in  me  ;. 
Burst,  skull,  give  birth — this  world  is  mine, 
Its  ocean  has  deeper  voice  than  thine  ; 

In  thy  cool  wave  dabble  my  hands,  O  Sea  ! 

How  cold  my  hands,  and  my  head  is  a  flame — 

Ah,  cold  with  grasping  the  steely  bars  ! 
Tear,  twist  me  their  strength  from  the  cut-stone 

frame, 
Wrench  with  might  of  a  score  who  are  dreading 
a  shame — 
O  God,  for  the  peace  of  the  patient  stars  ! 

Leap  down,  for  there  on  the  couch  she  lies — 

Her  hand  to  my  cheek,  let  me  kiss  it  again  ; 
The  veils  have  fallen  o'er  Juliet's  eyes, 
In  this  Capulets'  vault  where  the  daylight  dies," 
And  sound-shadows  come  of  the  tread  of  men. 

Open  thy  door  into  life,  sweet  Death, 

To  the  love  fulfilled  that  our  hearts  desired  ! 
All  things  for  good  He  fashioneth — 
More  air  !  but  what  do  I  need  of  breath  ? 

Let  me  sleep,  by  her  side — O  God — so  tired  ! 


III.    IN  A  BOUDOIR 

I  will  not  go  down  ;  my  guests  have  gone  ; 

You  may  say,  with  truth,  I  am  indisposed — 
I  '11  do  for  his  game  if  they  're  short  of  a  pawn, 

For  the  rest  must  suffer  with  tense  lips  closed  ;; 
Let  them  revel  there  till  the  break  of  dawn  ! 


A  STORY  IN  THREE  VOICES  69 

That  is  naught  for  them  of  a  line  so  proud  ? 

He  has  given  me  place  ?     Others  envy  me  ? 
Is  it  much  to  be  first  in  a  hated  crowd, 

When  I  love  the  woods,  and  the  royal  sea  ? 
O  bridal  veil,  had  you  been  my  shroud  ! 

For  my  best  you  chose  ?  For  your  own  self,  too, 
But  best  of  brazen,  and  gold  to  be  had  ; 

When  he  learns  of  it  all,  what,  what  will  he  do  ! 
For  a  day  or  two,  you  suppose,  he  '11  be  sad  ; 

But  Mother,  what  if,  in  the  end,  he  be  true  ? 

My  husband  comes  of  an  ancient  race. 

And  he  boasts  of  his  wife  to  the  guests  that 
meet  ? 

Yes,  proud  of  his  purchase  that 's  fair  in  the  face — 
He  has  fouled  the  life  that  I  held  so  sweet, 

O  Death,  how  I  loathe  his  every  embrace  ! 

Last  night  I  crouched  by  the  stair  and  heard 
Something  he  said  about  neck  and  limb. 

And  then  a  whisper,  I  caught  no  word. 

But   the  coarse  laugh  broke —  a  curse  be  on 
him 

And  the  gaudy  cage  where  he  snared  the  bird  I 

The  splendor  you  share,  but  the  pain  is  mine, 
The  heart  that  fails,  and  the  trembling  lip — 
Yet  you    say  :    Be  brilliant  !    He   bids  me   not 
pine — 
If  his  horse  should  lag  there  's  the  sting  of  the 
whip, 
So  I  whom  he  bought,  in  his  house  must  "shine"  ! 


Ill 


f!  '. 


Hi 
i'l,; 


.:? 


70  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

A  paper  sent  ?     Let  me  see  who  are  dead  ; 

Happy  are  they — bad  news,  I  fear, 
This  paragraph  marked  with  a  cross  of  red  : 

"A  saddest  case — in  a  bright  career — 
111  news  had  come,  and — out  of  his  head — " 

0  merciful  God,  he  was  true,  so  true — 
False  wretch  that  I  am  !     Read  that,  I  say  ; 

1  have  lost  my  all — is  there  gain  to  you  ? 

Did  you  gamble  for  this  ?   Leave  me  !    Quick, 
obey  ! 
Your  daughter?     Yes,  but  a  woman,  too  ! 

Quick,  fasten  the  door, — be  alone,  or  I  shriek 
And  rouse  that  fiend  from  his  stupor  of  wine — 

0  pictured  lips,  forgive  1  Oh,  speak  ! 
Cruel,  hard,  O  God,  is  this  law  of  Thine, 

So  much  to  suffer  for  once  to  be  weak  I 

1  remember  once  that  we  walked  the  sands. 
And  a  rose-gray  veil  joined  heaven  and  seti — 

This  pain  in  my  breast,  like  a  dart  ;   O  hands, 
Could    you    hold    him    there    for   a    moment 
'twould  be 
The  one  physician  my  hurt  demands  ! 


On  my  knees,  till  I  feel  that  my     -ief  is  cast 
On  the  Burden-Bearer ;  he  bade  me  go. 

My  Lover — can  he  forgive  the  past  ? 

'Tis  his  face,  so  near,  in  a  heavenly  glow  ! 

In  the  light — my  Love — together — at  last  ! 


THE  SONGS  OF  TWO 


71 


THE  SONGS  OF  TWO 


I.    HEARD  AT  SUNSET 

The  sun's  red  light  streams  over  the  sea, 
On  his  path  of  glory  my  love  sails  on — 

My  love  sails  on,  and  over  the  sea 

To  the  brave  heart  far  where  the  sun  will  dawn, 

Who  can  dim  the  sun  with  his  love  for  me. 

O  red  Sun,  look  to  me  over  the  sea, 
If  only  my  love  burnt  as  cold  as  thou  ! 

As  cold  as  thou  flaming  over  the  sea — 
Men  call  thee  a  fire,  and  worshipers  bow, 

But  cold  as  a  stone  to  the  love-flame  in  me. 


II.    THE  ANSWER   AT   DAWN 

O  Messenger-Sun  from  over  the  sea, 

Who  hast  looked  on  the  face  of  my  love  for  me, 
On  the  face  of  my  love  who  is  over  the  sea. 

And  yet,  knowest  naught  of  our  life  to  be — 
For  thou  wilt  shrink  to  a  cinder  cold. 

Like  the  white  ghost-moon  that  flits  on  high. 
Ere  a  page  or  two  of  the  life  unfold 

Which  we  win  by  our  loving,  she  and  I. 

O  glittering  Sun  in  thy  glory  of  gold, 

Proudly  thy  red  cloud-mantle  sway, 
Thy  red  cloud  pierced  by  glory  of  gold — 

Love's  glory  shall  dazzle  thine  fading  away  I 
For  the  white  flame  leaps  in  one  heart  for  me. 

And  my  pure  love  flames  to  her  over  the  sea  ; 
As  thine  to  the  dead  moon  our  glory  shall  be, 

Which  we  win  by  our  loving,  I  and  she  ! 


m 


V 


msi 


73 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


III 


r 


A  NOCTURNE 


NO.  VI,  BY  CHOPIN 


Struggle  and  fight  and  torture-pain, 
Yearnings  intense  of  fevered  brain. 
Anguish  of  love,  foreboding  fear. 
The  aching  eye  that  hath  no  tear — 
Like  a  star  from  its  orbit  hurled  away. 
My  soul  hath  no  anchor,  path  or  stay, 
But  is  filled  with  surging  of  wild  unrest. 
With  a  motley  legion  of  thoughts  I  detest  ; 
From  these  shall  I  never  have  surcease  ? 
Is  there  no  peace  ? 

The  captive  held  by  clanking  chains 
Hath  hope  while  spark  of  life  remains  ; 
And  even  I,  in  my  bondage  dread, 
Erewhile  had  hope,  but  the  light  is  Hed  ; 
In  a  horror  of  darkness  I  grope  and  grope, 
Where  is  there  hope  ? 

Out  of  the  depths  I  blindly  cry  ; 
If  there  be  a  God,  he  will  let  me  die. 
But,  lo,  I  hear,  and  it  stills  my  pain, 
My  prayer  sounds  back  with  a  soothing  strain  ! 
With  hope  I  pray,  and  the  strain  grows  strong, 
Sounding  forth  like  a  triumph  song  ; 
I  reach  the  heights  of  heaven  above, — 
There  must  be  Love  ! 

Though  I  fall  again,  though  in  hell  I  lie, 
I  shall  rise  forthwith,  I  will  not  die  I 


A  WOMAN  OF  THE  AGE 


73 


Spectral  fear  hath  been  driven  away, 
I  shall  rise  to  Love,  since  for  love  I  pray  ; 
The  yearning  of  heart  shall  be  all  fulfilled. 
But,  as  a  child  whose  grief  is  stilled 
Convulsive  sobs  on  the  mother's  breast. 
From  the  midst  of  hopefulness  and  rest 
I  hear  the  after-sob  of  pain, — 
One  minor  strain. 


If 

II 

m 

ll 

■  4- 

*■■  1 

:   ■'. 

V 

il 

1 

■  i' 

fi 

f0 


A  WOMAN  OF  THE  AGE 

The  one  whom  I  love,  is  she  "fair,"  you  said  ? 

As  the  lily  pure,  as  the  queenly  rose  ; 
She  doth  the  world  of  women  surpass 
As  these  are  fair  to  the  trodden  grass. 

"Like  every  lover  ?"     Ah  well,  who  knows, 
I  shall  speak  unlike,  ere  my  lips  be  dead. 

How  could  they  sing  what  mine  eyes  can  see, 
Fairer  than  dreamers  of  dreams  e'er  guessed  ! 

"That  is  my  dream  ?"     But  nay,  I  know  ; 
A  century  long  does  the  aloe  grow. 
Years  of  the  leaf,  but  the  flower  is  best — 

She  is  the  bloom  of  the  age-grown  tree. 

That  Venus — there,  by  the  window  ledge  ; 
Marble  is  better  than  bronze,  I  know, 

No  sharp  cut  lines  of  the  shadow-edge, 
But  a  melting  into  the  light,  as  though 
The  radiance  without  were    the  inward  glow. 


III 

1  i 


*    1 

I 


P 

i^  &  a 


i'l 


m 
I! 


^' 


74 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


With  greater  than  skill  hath  the  artist  wrought, 

The  torso  lives,  but  the  face  like  a  stone  ; 
Unrivalled  the  form,  but  what  of  her  thought  ? 

Yet  the  marbk  thrills  ; — what  if  you  were  shown 
The  blush  of  the  red  life  dawning  through  ! 

'Twas  a  perfect  leaf  that  Phidias  knew  ; 
But  the  flower  ?     You  would  blind  your  eyes  from 
the  sight 

Of  its  rose-mist  life  thrilling  petals  white  ! 

There,  in  the  shade  of  the  curtain-fold 
At  your  left,  a  living  face  looks  out  ; 
Thought  brims  to  word,  see,  the  red  lips  pout  ; 

Wrought  by  a  Master — they  call  him  Old, 

But  young   was  his  art  when  he    wrought,  no 
doubt. 


Stand  here,  and  look  at  the  oval  face 

With  the  prayer-oped  lips  and  the  brow  smooth- 
white  ; 
The  nobler  man  in  yourself  you  trace 

As  into  your  soul  shines  its  holy  light. 

Note  you,  no  wonder  the  sculptor  thought  : 
"Here  must  be  womanhood  at  the  flower,  " 

Or   the  Master  spake  as  his  quick  hand  wrought  : 
"  Beauty  can  never  have  higher  dower  ;" 

A  spirit  of  dreams  would  she  be  to  them — 
Yoi\  if  you  saw  once  my  lady's  grace, 
With  her  Venus  form  and  Madonna  face, 

Would  stoop  with  your  lips  to  her  garment's  hem  I 

You  as  a  worshiper  thus  would  kneel  ; 
But  what  can  I,  who  have  loved  her  so  ? 


A  WOMAN  OF  THE  AGE  75 

From  their  settled  course  my  senses  wheel, 
As  if  the  planets  should  clash  and  reel, 
When  even  the  touch  of  her  hand  I  know. 

They  praised  the  leaf,  when  'twas  leaf  and  thorns  ; 

But  she  is  the  flower  of  the  age-grown  tree — 
You    would    pluck    the  flower?      But    the    quick 

thought  warns  : 
Venus  may  love  you  when  Psyche  scorns ; 

The  battle  is  bitter,  I  say,  for  me. 

"Not  one  of  our  line  but  was  strong  in  the  fight  ?" 
Hand  me  that  toy  of  their  days  of  strife, 

That  with  the  handle  of  malachite  ; 

To  the  red  heart  oft  hath  it  flashed  its  light, 
And  won  the  game  when  they  played  for  life. 

Let  here  be  a  man  !  and  here  I    and  here — 

See,  'tis  deep  as  the    hilt  in  the  close-grained 
wood  ; 

Thus  could  I  do — why  start  you  in  fear  ? 

To  save  one  maid  from  a  shameful  tear. 

For  the  sake  of  my  Love  and  her  womanhood  I 

The  might  of  ten  could  I  dare  withstand  ; 

But,  look  at  that  sword  two-handed  there — 
As  this  of  mine  to  your  taper  hand. 
Find  a  brawny  arm  for  that  mighty  brand. 

And  nerve  his  heart  with  a  wild  despair. 

Bar  then  his  path  with  a  hundred  spears — 

See  you  the  flash  of  the  whirling  steel  ? 
They  fall  like  grain  that  the  reaper  shears. 
Clear  through,  blood-spattered,  his  way  appears  ; 
There  by  the  brook  see  the  hero  kneel. 


J     SI 


■■it 


1^1 


76 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


What  of  such  battle  of  flesh  and  blood, 

That  your  cheeks  thrill  red  and  your  bright  eyes 
stare  ? 
One  wards  the  thrust,  gives  a  crash  for  a  thud. 
One  falls,  to  crumble  back  into — mud  ! 
With  grass  instead  of  his  wavy  hair. 

You  move  a  pawn  in  some  idle  game. 

What  is  that  to  an  empire's  war  ? 
So  the  fight  with  a  hundred  that  yielded  fame, 
Is  naught  to  the  bitter  fight  I  name — 

What  can  I,  you  wonder,  be  fighting  for  ? 


The  princes  of  darkness  have  hemmed  me  in. 
The  life  to  the  spirit  their  hosts  oppose  ; — 
They  seek  to  stab  my  soul  with  a  sin. 
Come  with  angel-smile,  or  with  leer  and  grin. 
But    I    fight   to  the  death —   'tis  for    Life — God 
knows  ! 


What  if  I  spake  of  the  warm  white  breast 

More  fair  than  the  Greek  in  his  dreaming  knew  ; 
Of  the  face  more  grand  than  Italy's  best. 
Child-sweet,  man-strong,  in  its  placid  rest, 

Did  I  tell  of  the  eyes  whence  the  soul   looked 
through  ? 


1  i 


I  I 


Were  she  of  the  leaf,  from  the  fight  I  were  free. 

Needing  only  to  love  as  a  man  can,  do  ; 
But  the  eyes  have  opened  their  depths  to  me, 
She  is  the  flower — as  a  god  must  I  be. 
Must  love  her  as  man,  and  as  angel,  too. 


BY  THE  SOUNDING  SHORE 


77 


BY  THE  SOUNDING  SHORE 

* 

I  stand  again  by  the  sounding  shore 
And  the  dashing  waves  my  lot  deplore  ; 
For  they  flow  and  flow  to  my  weary  brain, 
And  cleanse  away  the  throbbing  pain. 
O  cool  and  clear,  O  plashing  wave. 
My  fevered  heart  in  thy  coolness  lave  ! 
Till  I  am  care-free  as  a  child  once  more 
By  the  sounding  shore. 

0  Peace,  that  dwells  in  the  silent  skies, 
Quell  me  the  tumults  of  mind  that  rise  ; 
Possess  my  soul  with  thy  harmony. 

Till  jangle  of  strife  shall  no  longer  be  ; 
Calm  the  struggle  and  yearning  wild, 
Till  I  feel  again,  as  a  little  child, 

1  am  known  to  the  watchful  angel-eyes 

In  the  silent  skies. 


|i; 


i'\ 


HALF-THOUGHTS 

An  eager  child  whose  life  four  bare  walls  bound, 
Whose  outlook  is  a  blank  and  cheerless  street 
Where  seldom  do  the  silent  passers  meet, 

Heareth  afar  the  thrilling  martial  sound 
Of  music,  and  his  pulses  beat 

With  every  drum-throb,  and  his  heart  is  crowned 
With  joy,  expectant  the  parade  will  greet 

His  eyes  ;  but  soon  in  distance  all  is  drowned. 


78 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


I 


Thus  do  melodious  half-thoughts  loom  afar, — 
As,  when  cloud-garments  trail  the  level  sea, 

We  dimly  trace  the  lines  of  mast  and  spar 
Of  ghostlike  vessel,  lost  so  silently 

In  mist  again  we  scarce  believe  the  bar 
Of  cloud  was  raised  to  let  the  vision  be. 


i;  I 


VALSE  PREMIERE 

The  faces  around  in  the  room  grow  dim 

To  the  two  who  are  swayed  by  the  melody's  whim, 

Alone,  as  if  swung  to  the  earth's  farthest  rim. 

In  a  dream  of  contentment  they  turn  and  glide, 
Impulse  to  each  movement  so  inter-tied 
The  throbbing  of  music  alone  is  their  guide. 

No  breaking  or  jar  in  the  rythmical  beat. 
The  harmony  rules  e'en  their  wayward  feet  ; 
Their   hearts  are   in  tune  with  its  influence  sweet. 

'Tis  a  life  that  is  lived  in  a  little  space, — 
The  unit  of  life  in  which  two  have  a  place. 
Together  who  move  with  harmonious  grace 

But  some  bound  together  for  freedom  are  fain, 
They  move  not  as  one,  but  with  jarring  and  strain, 
In  discord  with  its  music,  they  make  life  a  pain. 

The  world  is  with  harmonies  thrilled  through  and 

through. 
But  the  hearts  thrilled  together  responsive,  so  few, 
How  happy  his  lot,  who  is  one  of  such  two  ! 


BABY  ELINOR 


79 


BABY  ELINOR 

"Come,  O  Sleep,  from  Chio's  isle. 
Take  my  little  one  awhile — " 

— Greek  Folk-Song. 

THE  MOTHER  Sixes  : 

Come  hither,  Sleep,  from  Chio's  isle. 
My  wakeful  babe  canst  thou  be}:[uile  / 
Let  rose  of  dawn  be  on  the  cheek, 
On  sweet  lips  parted  as  to  speak. 
But  bring  a  twilight  o'er  these  eyes 
As  bright  and  blue  as  summer  skies  ; 
Then  S7c>ing  the  cradle  to  and  fro 
Till  all  the  winged  shadows  go, 
Like  droic'sy  flower  my  baby  sway 
Until  her  laughter  hails  the  day. 

Come  hither.  Sleep,  from  Chio's  isle. 
Take  thou  my  little  one  a7i'hile. 
And  twine  soft  fabric  of  the  night 
O'er  merry  eyes  that  glance  too  bright  j 
Make  silent  thou  the  laughter  sound 
But  leave  the  smile,  and  dimple  round. 
And  rock  my  baby  on  thy  breast 
Like  wee  bird  swaying  in  the  nest ; 
At  morning  bring  her  fresh  as  day, 
Then  on  a  sunbeam  fly  away. 


IS 
ilil 


THE    POET  S    REVERIE 

O  little  blessed  child. 

Sent  from  the  "  Mother-God  " 


8o  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

To  earthly  mother  mild, — 
Thine  be  Messiah-life, 
Thy  spirit  undefiled  ! 

May  loving  thought  and  pure, 
Of  lover  and  of  friend, 

Each  budding  wish  allure 
To  blossom  unto  God, 

Whose  loving  doth  endure  ! 

A  thought  of  God  thou  art, 
And  words  unuttered  sing 

Their  music  to  my  heart, 

When  by  thy  couch  I  kneel, 

Dwelling  with  God  apart. 

A  Woman  thou  shalt  be  ; 

A  man  am  I,  sweet  babe. 
My  life  dies  out  with  me  ; 

But  thou  shalt  set  impress 
On  lives  to  come  through  thee. 


A  twig  this  life  of  mine, 

Fruit-clustered,  yet  to  fall 

From  never-dying  vine. 

Wherein  thou  art  a  part 

Through  womanhood  divine. 

No  curse  thou  needest  mourn  ; 

The  circlet  of  our  life 
God  on  his  hand  hath  worn. 

Where  true  men's  lives  like  gems 
By  womanhood  are  borne. 


BABY  ELINOR 

The  gold  is  Woman  true, 

The  gold  doth  never  fail  ; 

The  gems,  alas,  too  few  ! 

But  know,  by  such  as  thou 

Man  is  create  anew. 

Be  true,  dear,  to  thy  name. 

Bring  "  light  "  from  God  to  men  ; 
Show  how  His  love  hath  claim, 

Until  in  hearts  estranged 
Gloweth  Love's  answering  flame. 


8i 


I! 


LULLABY-SONG 


^- 


Lv^-*-*-"- 


£3L*>r 


c<-  ■> 


/vv  ti  *•*■  *  t  •  ^ 


Where  does  my  sweetheart  Baby  ,{,v^ 

While  the  cradle  is  swi)igin;^  her  to  and  fro, — 

While  Mother  is  si//gi//g  a  lullaby 
In  a  voice  like  none  other,  so  sweet  and  low  ? 

Lullaby  Baby,  lullaby  dear  ! 
Yichl  thee  to  slumber.  Mother  is  near  ; 
J^ar  on  Sleep' -  ocean  fear  not  to  go^ 
God  is  around  thee,  loving  thee  so  I 

Does  she  fly  away  to  the  home  of  Night, 
When  eyelids  droop  over  blue  eyes  bright  ? 
Does  she  seek  the  place  where  the  dreams  are 
born, 
Clad  in  her  dreaming-dress  of  white  ? 

H''r  cradle  sways  like  a  fairy  boat 
On  the  gentle  Slumber  river  afloat. 

That  bears  on  its  bosom  a  baby  fleet, 
As  the  sunbeam  many  a  shining  mote. 


>■•< 


1 1 
I 


^2 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


' 


T 


So  S7viftly  the  babies  are  sweeping  along 
As  if  a  breeze  in  the  sail  blew  strong, 

Yet  no  waves  beat,  for  it  is  rot  the  wind 
But  the  crooning  of  many  a  mother-song. 

Do^an  Slumber  river  their  course  they  keep, 
Until  they  come  to  the  sea  of  Sleep  ; 
And  the   mermaids   tell  them   of  loonderful 

things, 
For  they  are  the  dreams  that  arise  from    the 

deep. 


ST.  ANTHONY'S  VICTORY 

Have  I  not  obeyed  when  I  sold  my  lands  ? 

And  the  poor  were  rich,  for  a  day  at  least  ; 
Now  they  are  tilled  by  grasping  hands, 

And  the  poor  still  beg  while  these  owners  feast, — 
I  haunting  the  rocks  'mong  the  Egypt  sands. 

The  young  maids  once  would  smile  to  my  face  ; 

Now  it  is  haggard  and  hollow-eyed  ; 
Can  I  not  forget  their  supple  grace, 

When  my  wine  is  the  drip  from  the  cave's  dim 
side, 
And  my  feast  a  crust  in  a  gruesome  place  ? 

Happy,  you  death's  head  grinning  there, 
Of  eyes  that  offend  have  you  been  bereft  ; 

I  see  a  face  in  its  cloud  of  hair — 
This  cross  of  wood  in  its  rocky  cleft 

I  have  set,  to  be  saved  from  the  tempter's  snare. 


ST.  ANTHONY'S  VICTORY 


83 


Tet  the  voice  was  sweet  as  a  sinking  bird, 
And  the  red  lips  warm  to  my  hollow  cheek, 

Soft  was  the  breast  that  the  faint  breath  stirred — 
Who  come,  in  the  light  of  that  sunset  streak  ? 

God  grant  of  the  saint  they  have  never  heard. 

The  one  than  my  dreams  ever  imaged  more  fair, 
Her  silver  zone  girds  a  scarf  of  blue  ; 

A  twilight  veil  doth  the  other  wear. 

But  I  see  the  flush  of  *^he  rose  gliat  through. 

And  pearls  and  gold  bind  her  night-black  hair. 

Did  I  hear  a  voice  ;  was  it  "Anthony"  ? 

'Twas  my   name  !     But  why  are  they  come  to 
seek  ? 
I  must  shrink  in  my  cave  from  that  sunset  ray  ; 
How  the   red   lips  curve  when    the  name  they 
speak, —    ' 
But  quick,  let  me  fall  on  my  face  to  pray  ! 

^'Why  have  I  wasted  my  youthful  years  ? — " 
"Her  lap  is  more  soft  than  the  rocky  floor — " 

^'Her  bosom  and  arms  will  rest  me  from  fears — " 
Their  laughter,  I  hear  it  more  and  more 

Like  the  gurgle  of  water  in  drowning  ears. 

I  am   pierced   with    the  dart  of  the  bright  eyes' 
glance, 

Brighter  still  as  the  cave  grows  dim  ; 
In  a  shimmer  of  light  my  closed  eyes  dance  ; 

I  am  held  I     O  languor  of  arm  and  limb — 
Awake,  O  Soul,  from  thy  shameful  trance  I 


i*';    l-'il 


S; 


u 


84 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


There  is  the  sign  of  the  One  who  died, — 
Free  me,  ye  serpent  arms  that  twine  ! 

Help  me,  power  of  the  Crucified, 

Shall  the  fiend  have  greater  strength  than  Thine  ?' 

Struggle,  ye  limbs  that  his  charms  have  tied  ! 

Agonize  more  ;   I  can  touch  the  cross — 

0  Fiends  !  that  in  bodies  of  beauty  dwell. 
Is  my  sou'  for  your  hands  in  sport  to  toss  ? 

1  clutch  ;  but  they  drag  me  down  to  hell  ; 

It  has  crashed  !     Help,  God, — or  Thine  the  loss  ! 

How  chill  is  the  floor,  but  why  should  I  start  ? 

It  is  not  the  red  dawn,  but  the  sun's  last  beams — 
Ah,  the  tempter  was  nigh,  deceiving  my  heart — 

I  thank  thee,  O  God,  that  e-en  in  dreams 
I  turn  to  thy  strength,  and  my  helper  thou  art  ! 


t*i 


'*t. 


!i 


T/iere  comes  a  legend  from  the  Persian  land^ 
That  roses,  at  the  gateioay  of  the  day, 
From  Paradise  out-trailing,  bloom  alway  ; 

And  thence  the  breezes  come,  a  vieivless  band. 

Bearing  the  fragrance  %i.nth  a  lavish  hand  ; 
And  once  to  every  life,  or  sad  or  gay, 
They  bring  the  golden  odor  lovingly  — 

Then  seemeth  he  in  Paradise  to  stand. 

Alone  one  day  I  sat,  7t'ith  grief  ontivorn. 
When  absent  friends  in  memory  came  nigh. 

And  lo,  the  fragrance  to  my  life  was  borne. 
At  thought  if  many  loves  that  could  >iot  die^ 

He  that  in  Ti    ndships  truth  doth  realize 

Eternal  love,  foretasteth  Paradise. 


"I  HAVE  A  FRIEND" 

The  weary  traveler  in  a  desert  land, 

'Gainst  whom  by  full-orbed  sun  from  heavenly 
seat, 

Are    launched   his  quivering  shafts  of  yellow 
heat, 
And  scorching  breath  is  blown  from   desert  sand,. 
Doth  madly  long  beneath  the  palms  to  stand, 

Where  kiss  of  waters  cool,  his  lips  may  greet  ;, 

But,  often  tempted  by  the  mirage  fleet, 
He  wanders  on,  where  shadeless  wastes  expand. 

'phus  wearily  I  journeyed,  many  a  year, 
Athirst  for  ever,  by  mirage  beguiled  ; 

But  now  no  more  the  sand-choked  well  I  fear, 
The  living  spring,  whose  waters  undefiled 

Can  quench  my  life-long  thirst,  I  know  at  last — 

I  have  a  friend  ;  the  desert  days  are  past. 


MEMORIES 


No  portrait  of  my  guardian  Friend  have  I, 
By  skillful  artist  hand  on  canvas  lined  ; 
Such  counterfeit  mine  eyes  need  not  to  find 

Of  her  sweet  face,  to  bring  the  vision  nigh  ; 

87 


amm 


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VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


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For  as  rich  jewels  in  golden  casket  lie, 

Bright  mem'ries  safely  dwell  within  my  mind  ; 
And  when  mine  eyelids  close,  and  I  am  blind 

To  things  of  earth,  the  clasps  wide  open  fly. 

And  then  thy  radiant  face  upon  me  beams, 

With  kindness  and  with  chastity  alight  ; 
Blue    eyes,   more     pure    than     clearest    mountain 
streams. 
Shine    clear  with    innocence,    like    diamonds 
bright  ; 
Precious,  and  fair  the  visions  that  I  see, 
When  thought  looks  back  on  memories  of  thee. 


AU  REVOIR 

The  brightness  from  the  day  seems  all  to  fade. 
Since  far    from   thee,   O    Friend,  I    now  must 

go  ; 
The  happy  days  late  past,  are  whelmed  in  woe 

That  rises  like  a  tide,  and  storms  have  laid 
In  ruin  all  my  hopes  ;  yet.  undismayed 
I  face  all  grief,  no  wave  can  overflow 
One  steadfast  hope,  A'hence  others  grow, 
We  meet  again, — on  this  my  heart  is  stayed. 

The  might  of  faith  can  make  the   weakest  strong, 
And    faith  of     mine    doth    join    me    to    that 
strength  ; 

All  things  are  possible,  to  me  belong 

All  hope,  and  trust,  and  joy,  until  at  length 

Faith  hath  reward,  I  know  not  how  or  when, — 

This  one  thing  only,  we  shall  meet  again. 


FAME 


89 


FAME 


Of  worldly  fame  I  dreamed,  in  by-gone  days, 
What  time  I  lay  upon  the  tented  field, 
And   sleep,  by  weary  marching  gained,  had 
sealed 

Mine  eyes  ;  and  in  my  dream,  like  one  in   maze, 

I  stood  on  high,  and  heard  the  hum  of  praise, 

Where   silk    dmi   jewels   gleamed,    while  joy- 
bells  pealed, 
Yet  in  my  heart  there  lay  a  woe  concealed. 

For  no  eyes  turned  to  mine  with  true  love's  gaze. 

But  now  I  envy  not  a  warrior's  fame, 

Though  he  be  victor  in  a  thousand  fields  ; 

For,  once  o'erthrown,  the  world  forgets  his  name, 
And  Beauty  her  sweet  smile  no  longer  yields, — 

For  in  thine  eyes  I  see  eternal  love. 

And  I  am  famed  all  earthlv  fames  above. 


^^i 


"UP  TO  THE  LIGHT,  TOGETHER  " 

We  walk  beneath  the  brooding  trees. 
The  rain  that  fell  hath  slain  the  breeze. 
Silence  incarnate  seems  the  dark  ; 
When  dim,  afar,  we  see  a  spark 
Of  light,  that  eager  branches  seize 
To  make  their  green  leaves  gleam  like  amber. 
Glad  at  the  sight. 
With  hearts  as  bright, 
"  Up  to  the  light,"  we  clamber. 


90 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


!8 


1 1  i 


So  Truth  hath  set  her  lamp  on  high  ; 
The  multitude  have  passed  her  by  ; 

What  though  we  leave  the  pleasant  vale, 
And  friends  our  wild  resolve  bewail, 
We  must  climb  to  the  truth  or  die  ! 
Naught  care  I  for  bleak  mountain  weather. 
For  snow  and  rime, 
If  we  may  climb 
Through  space,  through  time,  "  together  !" 


WAITING 

As  one  benighted  on  the  plains,  for  dawn 

Doth    wait,   and   long  on    homeward   way   to 

press. 
Nor  yet  through  low-hung  mist  the  way  can 
guess. 
For  veil  of  dark  o'er  stars  and  moon  is  drawn  ; 
Thus  minutes  of  the  hour  roll  slowly  on, 

Like  waves  that  on  the  shore    break   purpose- 
less ; 
The  joy  that  was,  my  heart  will  not  confess. 
For  all  is  dreary  dark  while  thou  art  gone. 

And  yet  as  patient  as  the  sun  I  '11  be. 

That  every  day  his  heavenly  race  renews. 

Trusting  his  fair  moon's  love-lit  face  to  see  ; 
For  when  the  meeting-times  do  come  I  lose 

The  pain,  my  gladness  dims  mine  eyes  with  tears 

And  days  of  joy  repay  for  waiting  years. 


ill''    ill 


INFLOWING  TIDE 


91 


INFLOWING  TIDE 


I  CROSSKD  the  bridge  that  spanned  a  river  wide, 
Where  vacant  flats,  beneath  the  smoky  day. 
Stretched  wide    and  far,   in  mire  the    brown 
weeds  lay, 

And  outward  with  the  stream  fair  hope  did  glide  ; 

But  ere  I  passed  again,  the  flowing  tide. 

From  moon-stirred  ocean,  up  the  long  blue  bay, 
Between  the  slime-green  piers  poured  lavishly. 

And  all  the  wide  blank  wastes  were  satisfied. 


I 


Thus  void  my  heart — a  desolate  expanse. 

Doubt-strewn  and  sad,  of  hopeful  joy  deplete, 

Till  happiness  upwelled  at  thy  first  glance, — 

Yea,   Friend,   'twas   rapture  thy  dear  self    to 
greet  ; 

And  though  we  work  for  Good  in  ways  apart, 

Joy  tides  at  every  meeting  to  my  heart. 


n 


SPRINGING  WATER 


Down  to  the  bay,  *mong  trees,  and  grasses  rank. 
The    springs   in  silver    brooks   their    wealth 

outpour. 
And   fiercest  thirst  is  slaked  from  bounteous 
store  ; 
Inward  the  high-tide  rushed,  then  slowly  sank. 
And  bright  streams  trickled  down  the  sloping  bank. 
Whereof    I  stooped  to  drink,    and   could   no 
more. 


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TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hiotographic 

Sdences 

Carporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)  •73-4S03 


1 


vV 


I 


I 


98 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


^i!    t 


!   I 


For  brackish  oozed  they  from  the  brine-soak- 
ed shore — 
But  up  the  hills  I  climbed,  then  deeply  drank. 

Where  tides  of  life  beat  high,  for  love  I  sought, 
And  oft  I  stooped  to  taste  deceptive  rills 

That  only  pangs  of  greater  longing  brought  ; 
But  nearer  God,  among  the  silent  hills 

I  sought,  and  found  the  fount   of  friendship  pure. 

Whose  sparkling  stream  the  weary  heart  can  cure. 


KNIGHTLY   INSPIRATION 

He  reined,  and  gazed  upon  the  castle-towers, 
The  bravest  knight  in  all  the  land  was  he. 
Who  now  fared  home  from  years  of  victory  ; 

And  lo  !  the   Princess,  flitting  'mong  her  flowers, 

Him  saw  and  gaily  led  through  fairy  bovvers. 

Till   thrilled  with  joy,  he  thought  right  mer- 
rily : 
Into  her  palace  now  she  bringeth  me, 

And  love  shall  claim  my  life's  remaining  hours. 

But  she  :     Go  forth  again  true-hearted  knight. 

Weak  ones  there  are    lor  thy   right    hand  to 
save  ; 

Let  thought  of  me  be  impulse  in  the  fight. 

So  all  may  know,  as  I,  how  thou  art  brave — 

And  though  of  love  she  yield  no  larger  dower, 

His  life  was  lived  in  that  exultant  hour. 


A  FAREWELL 


93 


A   FAREWELL 

And  so  the  time  has  come,  my  dear, 

The  dreaded  time  has  come 
When  we  must  sever,  you  and  I, 
You  to  old  friends  must  say  goodbye. 

And  I  goodbye  to  you  ; 
And  yet  my  Itps  are  dumb,  my  dear, 

Alas,  my  lips  are  dumb, 
Though  heart  with  loving  thought  is  full, 
The  agony  of  loss  doth  rule, 

I  know  not  what  to  do. 

The  white  flowers  on  your  breast,  my  dear, 

The  white  flowers  on  your  breast. 
Could  speak,  I  know,  my  thoughts  to  you  ; 
I  brought  them  gemmed  with  May-day  dew, 

They  must  have  heard  my  prayer. 
With  flowers  your  hair  is  dressed,  my  dear, 

With  apple-buds  'tis  dressed  ; 
Bright  blossoms  in  your  hand  I  see. 
And  friends  about,  but  you  to  me 

Are  the  sweetest  blossom  there. 


Your  friends  are  saying  goodbye,  my  dear, 
Your  friends  all  say  goodbye  ; 

I  wonder  if  they  mean  the  prayer, 

If  aught  but  love  has  brought  them  there. 
If  they  're  sad  as  I  to-day. 

And  now  alone  stand  I,  my  dear. 
And  now  alone  stand  I  ; 


94 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


'!! 


!i 


I  see  your  fluttering  signal  white, 
Your  smiling  face  and  blossoms  bright, — 
So  soon  they  fade  away  ! 

And  you  have  gone  away,  my  dear. 

Ah,  you  have  gone  away, — 
Away  to  the  land  of  all  delight, 
Where  all  the  year  is  sunshine  bright, 

Away  to  the  happy  West  ; 
You,  the  queen  of  May,  my  dear. 

My  queen  of  May  to-day, 
Are  gone  to  rule  where  palm  trees  grow. 
Where  the  cactus  blooms,  and  roses  blow,- 

Thyreign  with  peace  be  blessed  ! 


In 


SPEECH    OF   A    LOVER 


't 


Ill 


idi! 


ii 


i 


///  olden  time  a  precious  instrument 
Did  hang  unused  within  a  palace  gay. 
No  hand  had  skill  the  golden  strings  to  play  ; 

What  time  men  tried,  the  discords  ever  blent 

With  notes  of  joy  ;  and  so  they  came  and  loent. 
But  7ohen  the  wind  among  the  strings  7vould  stray 
And  rouse  faint,  heavenly  strains,  the  king  would  say , 

One  Cometh  yet  to  play,  whom  God  hath  meant. 

A  maiden  came,  star-eyed  and  snowy-armed  ; 

Her  dainty  hands,  like  wind-blo^vn  lilies  glide 
Among  the  strings,  and  erery  heart  is  charmed — 

Yet  pensive  she,  alone  dissatisfied. 
Such  golden  harp  hath  Lai'e, — the  poefs  brain  ; 
Ho7v  sweet  he  singeth,  charming  her  in  vain  ! 


DEMENTIA  AMANTIS 


One  whom  I  love,  who  loves  me  not, 

Doth  daily  pass  me  by, 
At  sight  of  her  my  foolish  heart 

Maketh  such  glad  outcry. 
If  she  gave  love,  for  overjoy, 

I  fear  me  I  should  die. 

A  chain  of  love  hath  bound  me  fast, 
Each  hour  doth  forge  a  link — 

Were  she  beyond  the  gulf  of  hell. 
And  I,  upon  the  brink, 

My  soul  through  hell  would  go  to  her, 
Nor  otherwise  could  think  ! 

O  fair  round  wrist,  a  sculptor's  dream. 

And  poise  of  taper  hand, 
O  eyes  that  gain,  by  simple  look. 

More  than  a  king's  command, 
O  cloud  of  floating  raven  hair, — 

Bv  these  am  I  unmanned  ? 

Nay  I  not  by  these  ;  by  these  and  more 
Goodness  with  grace  combined, 

A  merry  heart  that  doeth  good, 
As  light,  so  pure  a  mind  ; 

A  gentle  hand,  whose  touch  is  like 
Caresses  of  the  wind. 

97 


^8  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

And  though  I  know  she  loves  me  not, 

I  have  not  any  choice, 
Her  faintest  smile  can  make  my  heart 

So  wildly  to  rejoice  ; 
And  I  would  traverse  heaven  and  earth 

To  list  her  thrilling  voice. 


HOPE  VICTORIOUS 

Is  it  only  a  dream  I  am  dreaming  ? 

Can  it  be  'tis  the  real  and  true  ? 
Do  I  follow  a  false  light  that 's  gleaming, 

Or  a  guiding  star  come  into  view  ? 

Is  there  one,  with  hea  't  tender  to  know  me, 
With  a  faith  that  is  clearer  than  sight  ? 

Is  there  one,  who  hath  wisdom  to  show  me 
How  my  path  may  lead  up  to  the  light  ? 


T' 


4i 


For  the  moment  that  wild  hope  is  thrilling, 
With  an  archangel's  might  I  am  strong  ; 

But  a  doubt  comes,  like  fog  with  its    chilling. 
How  to  me  can  such  joy  e'er  belong  ? 

Yet  with  patience  serene  I  am  waiting. 

Till  the  light  may  shine  clear  from    above  ; 

Not  a  hope  for  the  future  abating. 

For  '•  there  never  is  unreturned  love  !" 


DIVINITY  OF  LOVE 


99 


DIVINITY  OF  LOVE 

Behold  !  a  calm-voiced  prophet  saith  : 
"  Where  Love  is,  there  is  God  !" 
Though  treading  flower-bespangled  sod, 

Among  the  stars  the  lover  vvandereth  ; 

For  him  no  more  is  time,  or  space,  or  death. 

A  seer  spake  in  the  Orient  : 

**  God  only  doth  not  change  I" 
So,  not  the  lover,  though  he  range 

With  grief  the  earth,  till  flesh  and  blood  be  spent  ; 

Unbarriered  then,  his  soul  with  God  is  blent. 

And  when  thou  hear'st  the  poet  say, 

"  My  Love,  thou  art  divine  ; 

Immortal  I  through  love  of  mine  I" 
This  is  celestial  truth,  not  rhapsody  ; 
God  bids  him  speak,  he  dare  not  disobey. 


% 


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LOVE  IN  DEATH 


w 


I  FKKL  a  Stronger  love  than  thine 

My  spirit  calling  ; 
Dearest,  it  is  the  Love  divine 

Mine  every  sense  enthralling  ; 
But  yet  almost  unwillingly 

I  go  from  thee,  my  Love  ; 
Ah,  Love  !     I  know  my  soul  shall  stay 
Anear  thine  own,  till  by  His  way 

Thou  art  with  me,  above. 


100 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


I 


What  u  love  is  mine  and  thine  ! 

We  cannot  sever, 
For  we  have  lived  in  the  Divine, 

And  so  shall  dwell  forever  ; 
There's  naught  within  the  heaven's  dome 

I  wish  to  know,  my  Love, 
Since  thou  wilt  follow  where  I  roam, 
And  God  must  ever  be  our  home 

Where'er  I  go,  above. 

My  Darling,  press  thy  lips  to  mine 

In  mute  caressing — 
*Tis  thus  death  comes  from  the  Divine, 

A  voiceless  tender  blessing. 
No  word  from  Him  I  need  to  hear. 

Nor  yet  from  thee,  my  Love, 
Our  perfect  love  hath  cast  out  fear  ; 
On  earth  our  eyes  have  had  no  tear, 

And  none  will  be  above 


AT  MOONRISE 

When  daybeams  fade  from  sight 
I  think  of  thee  with  longing, — 

When  star-maids  of  the  night 

The  fair  queen  follow,  thronging. 

Not  brightest  she  doth  shine — 
One  saith — but  only  nearest  ; 

But  thou  to  heart  of  mine 

Art  nearest, — and  the  dearest ! 


AMONG  THE  RED  CLOVER 

So  unto  thee,  my  Queen, 

I  make  the  spheres  attendant ; 
Float  on  through  life,  serene, 

In  purity  resplendent ! 


lOI 


AMONG  THE  RED  CLOVER 

Among  the  red  clover  the  bees  are  a-wing, 
The  birds  in  the  maple-grove  joyously  sing ; 
\  What  is  it  the  pine-trees  are  yearning  to  say  ? 

.;^  Exult  they  as  we,  while  capricious  winds  play, 

^  And  earth  to  our  feet  all  her  tribute  doth  bring  ? 

Now  know  we  how  paltry  the  joys  of  a  king. 
Though  subjects  their  gold  into  his  coffers  fling — 
For  us,  free  of  care,  'tis  enough  that  we  stray 
Among  the  red  clover. 

O  heart  that  is  child-like,  whose  joy  hath  no  sting. 
Wherein  Nature's  melodies  all  the  day  ring  ; 

The   wide  earth  her   wealth  at  thy  footstool 

doth  lay. 
And  God  spends  his  power  to  give  thee  a  day  ! 
What  memories.  Love,  to  that  perfect  ciay  cling. 
Among  the  red  clover  ! 


I02 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


A  CROWN 

In  the  mine  of  life  I  have  toiled  for  years — 
My  gains  have  been  crushed  by  griefs  untold, 

Washed  by  the  flood  of  many  tears, 
And  I  have  but  a  meagre  store  of  gold 

From  the  furnace  of  doubt  and  fears. 

What  shall  I  do  with  the  gold  so  rare, 

Through  many  a  pang,  that  is  mine  at  last  ? 

One  thing  alone  ;  how  can  I  forbear  ! 

I  shall  make  (wild  heart  why  beat  so  fast  ?) 

A  crown  for  my  Love  to  wear. 

"  But  all  the  work  of  thy  hands  is  crude  ; 

She  will  scorn  thy  gift  with  glances  cold  ..." 
I  yet  must  worship  her,  calling  her  good, 

And  bringing  my  best,  my  all,  my  gold, 
To  crown  her  womanhood  ! 

My  gift,  with  hands  that  tremble  I  bring, 

The  surge  of  my  heart  flinging  mist  o'er    my 
eyes  ; 
Like  a  seraph  enraptured  how  gladly  t' would  sing — 
Naught    else  on  the  earth  would   remain  for  a 
prize. 
Did  she  choose  me  for  her  king  ! 

My  crown  of  gold  on  her  brow  I  have  seen — 
But  whence  these  doubtings  that  overwhelm  ? 

Will  my  eyes  have  joy  in  its  jewelled  sheen, 
If  yet  she  chooseth  another  realm, 

Whom  I  have  crowned  a  queen  ? 


LOVES  DILEMMA 


103. 


"Thou  art  only  prince  of  a  petty  land  ; 

She  would  dwell  with  thee  dissatisfied  ..." 
Too  loyal  my  love  is,  to  make  demand  ; 

The  giver  hath  blessing  ;  let  this  be  my  pride,. 
To  give  with  a  princely  hand. 


LOVE'S  DILEMMA 

I  'vK  been  with  jewelled  courtly  throng, 

Heard  musical,  low  laugh, 
Heard  Beauty  sing  bewitching  song, 

But  yet,  been  pleased  but  half  ; 
Thou  bringest  gladness  so  complete 
My  heart  doth  doubt  to  pause  or  beat. 

I  'd  ride  the  storms  on  rock-bound  coast, 

Traverse  the  desert  drear, — 
Would  face,  for  thee,  an  arfned  host. 

Nor  feel  the  blanch  of  fear  I 
Yet  glance  of  thine  makes  tremor  come 
Till  heart-beats  sound  like  throbbing  drum. 


Mv  vdrv  heart  doth  faint  and  fail 

For  love  of  thee — of  thee  ; 
I  've  wished  my  loving  might  avail 

To  win  thy  love  for  me  ; 
But  joy  so  great  would  break  my  heart, 
My  soul  would  from  the  body  part. 


I04 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


1  LOVE  THEE,  SWEET 

I  LOVE  thee,  Sweet,  for  thou  art  true. 
And  thou  art  pure  as  heaven's  own  blue  ; 
Too  pure  mayhap  to  dwell  with  men, 
With  angel-flights  beyond  their  ken — 
Tis  naught  to  thee,  that  one  may  sue. 

I  cannot  tell  how  reverence  grew 
From  fear  to  love,  that  dares  to  woo  ; 
I  feel  I  am  unworthy,  when 
I  love  thee.  Sweet. 

Sad  was  my  life,  that  past  I  rue  ; 

Let  love  upbuild  what  grief  o'erthrew  ! 
Haste  not  away  to  heaven  again, 
But  let  thy  love  be  mine,  for  then 

The  earth  may  be  a  heaven  too — 
I  love  thee,  Sweet  ! 


ARABIC  LOVE-SONG 

Free  as  mane-tossing  courser  of  the  waste 
Doth  roam,  my  I^ove, 
Mine  eager  spirit  comes  to  find  in  thee 
A  home,  my  Love  ! 
The  desert-weary  camels  rush  to  taste 
The  palm-girt  pool  ; 
I  die  of  thirst, — outpour  thy  love  to  me, 
Like  waters  cool  ! 


A  LOWLAND  SONG 


los 


To  me  thy  joy-lit  countenance  is  fair 
As  dawning  light ; 
More  holy,  when  in  thought  withdrawn  thou  art, 
Than  silent  night ; 
Like  stars  thine  eyes  from  out  thy  night  of  hair 
Do  shine,  my  Love, 
Ah,  look  with  tenderness,  for  all  my  heart 
Is  thine  my  love  ! 


/ 


A  LOWLAND  SONG 


Oh,  I  ken  whaur  my  treasure  is. 
And  there  my  hert  is  gane  ; 

The  King  frae  heaven  doth  gie  me  love, 
Nae  mair  I  '11  gang  alane. 

I  *ve  gane  oot  frae  my  lowly  sel'. 

To  dwell  in  a  palace  braw 
Built  up  o'  holy  thochts,  o'  ane 

Whom  I  lo'e  mair  than  a'. 

And  sae  the  smile  is  on  my  lip, 
And  licht  shines  frae  my  e'e. 

My  hert  is  glad  like  simmer  days, 
Can  heaven  happier  be  ? 

Nay,'this  is  heaven,  and  God  is  here, 

I  canna  ever  dee  ; 
For  when  He  gieth  love  like  this, 

'Tis  immortality  ! 


i  ( 


io6 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


y 


UNWORTHINESS 


O  Lassie  wi'  the  raven  hair, 

There  's  nocht  for  thee  I  wadna  dare  ; 
And  yet  it  's  a'maist  like  despair 
To  think  that  thou  dost  lo'e  me. 

The  balmy  airts  gae  whisperin'  by 
And  clouds  are  fleein'  ower  the  sky 
Like  angels  white —  oh,  what  am  I 
That  ever  thou  shouldst  lo'e  me  ? 

Mair  pure  than  cloud  micht  ever  be, 
The  breath  o'  God  doth  carry  thee  ; 
I  'm  naething  but  an  earth-fast  tree, 
How  canst  thou  ever  lo'e  me  ? 


NEW  ZEALAND  IMITATION. 

Dark  is  the  night,  I  need  thy  light, 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 
Thou  shinest  and  my  way  is  bright  ; 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 
My  throbbing  heart  doth  leap  and  start, 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 
So  fair,  so  glad,  so  bright  thou  art, 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 

O  Star  of  Hope  I  the  king  of  all  art  thou, 
To  thee,  the  ruler  of  my  soul,  I  bow  ! 


SAIR  TO  BIDE 


107 


Our  palisade  doth  fence  out  every  harm, 

And  shut  in  love,  so  fence  me  with  thine  arm. 

Thy  hand  is  small,  but  at  thy  call — 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 
My  strength  shall  guard  thee  like  a  wall ; 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 
In  me  thou  art,  naught  shall  us  part, 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  I 
Thy  hand  am  I,  and  thou  my  heart, 

O  Star  of  Joy,  I  love  thee  ! 

O  Star  of  Hope,  my  kingly  one,  my  Love  ! 

Thy  love  burns  brighter  than  the  stars  above  ; 
Again  with  arms  of  strength,  encircle  me, 

That  I  may  feel  my  heart  that  beats  in  thee  ! 


I 


^     SAIR  TO  BIDE 

I  r  's  sair  to  bide  when  thou  art  here  > 

I  'm  hauden  by  a  spell  ; 
Ma  hert  owerfu',  an'  like  to  break, 

Wi'  love  I  daurna  tell. 


It  's  sair  to  bide  when  thou  'rt  awa', 
The  flowers  '11  no  forget  ; 

They  tell  o'  thee  ilk  evenin'  glow 
When  the  gowden  sun  has  set. 

It  's  sair  to  bide  when  vvantin'  thee, 
I  'm  like  ane  lost  frae  hame  ; 


io8  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

The  soughin'  win'  amang  the  trees 
Keeps  whisperin'  aye  thy  name. 

Sae  bidena  thou  ower-lang  awa', 
Ma  bonny  winsome  doo  ; 

But  fin'  thy  hame  wi'  me  at  last, 
For  aye  my  hert  is  true. 


I 


SONG 

TUNE  :  '■'■yuanita'' 

When  from  sleep's  beguiling 

Wakes  a  babe  with  start  of  fear 

Quickly  turned  to  smiling. 
Mother-love  is  near. 

So  I  wake  and  wonder, 

Then  to  thee  my  glad  thoughts  fly, 
And  though  far  asunder, 

Love  doth  make  us  nigh. 

Beloved  !  Ah,  beloved  ! 
Thou  to  me  art  all  in  all, 

Beloved  !  Ah,  beloved  ! 
Hear'st  thou  not  my  call  ? 

When  the  daylight  breaketh, 

'Mong  the  hushed  expectant  hills. 

Then  new  joy  awaketh 

And  all  Nature  thrills  ; 


MOONLIGHT 

So  with  every  morning 

Joy  and  rapture  come  to  me, 
Doubt  and  darkness  scorning, 

I  am  thrilled  with  thee. 

Beloved  !  Ah,  beloved  ! 
Thou  art  light  of  life  to  me  ; 

Beloved  !  Ah,  beloved  ! 
Why  not  I  to  thee  ? 


109 


MOONLIGHT       : 

So  tremulous  the  flame  of  thinking  burns 

Beneath  mine  eyelids,  that  I  may  not  keep 
My  restless  couch  ;    I   watch   the  still  moon 
sweep 

Through  starry  space,  like  some  white  soul  that 
spurns 

Earth-life,  and  to  the  sunlight  ever  turns  ; 

In  her  cool  beams  my  burning  eyes  I  steep — 
Oh,  that  my  spirit  thus  may  rest  in  sleep. 

When  my  pale  ashes  mother  Earth  inurns  ! 

And  as  the  moonlight  quieteth  unrest. 

Changing  thought's  scorching  glow  to  truth's 
pure  light, 

So  thou,  who  art  my  heart's  most  holy  guest, 

Dost  make  its  ruddy  flame  glow  spirit-white  ; 

And  like  pure-hearted  child  'mid  happy  dreams, 

1  rest  my  heart  and  soul  in  thy  love-beams. 


II 


t 


\\'' 


no 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


LOVE'S  BAPTISM 

A  dream  came  to  me,  Love, 

A  vision  in  the  night, 
A  wonder  from  above 

Shone  clear  upon  my  sight  ; 
A  snowy  piire-eyed  dove 

With  gently-rustling  flight 
Came  floating  to  me,  bringing  heavenly  light. 


I 


1    I 


My  heart  for  joy  was  dumb, 

More  glad  than  when  it  sings. 
Nearer  I  saw  it  come 

Then  fold  its  snowy  wings  ; 
And  oh,  the  tenderness 

Of  those  celestial  eyes 
Lifted  to  mine  to  bless  ! 
From  earthly  stain  and  stress 

I  knew  I  should  arise. 

I  feared  as  in  a  trance 

'Twould  spread  white  wings  in  flight, 
My  fear  did  but  enhance 

The  glory  of  the  light. 
Changing,  yet  still  the  same  ; 

Mine  eyes  are  dazzled  now, 
I  saw  not  how  it  came, 
I  could  not  speak  a  name. 

And  yet  I  knew  'twas  thou  ! 

I  saw  no  more  the  dove, 

A  woman  form  was  thc-e. 


THE  MOON-LOVER 


lit 


Her  eyes  o'erfilled  with  love 

As  holy  as  a  prayer  ; 
I  entered  heaven  above 

And  knew  the  Father's  care, — 
World-hopes  were  gone  unprized, 
For  now  I  was  baptized 
By  love,  that  I  to  men  the  love  might  bear. 


1:. 
'I 


THE  MOON-LOVER 

'TwAS  a  cloudless,  fairy-like  summer  night, 

And  the  fair  moon  floated  above. 
While  a  happy  brook  with  his  face  alight, 

Sang  her  song  of  love. 

There  went  a  murmur  of  joy  'mong  the  trees. 

And  the  tall  reeds  drowsily  stirred, 
Soft  strains  from  the  harp  of  the  evening  breeze 

Came  forth  as  the  song  was  heard. 


■ 


His  song  to  a  whispering  note  he  hushed 
When  the  alders  hid  him  a  space, 

Then  wild  and  free  the  melody  gushed 
At  sight  of  the  fair  moon's  face. 

He  sang  to  the  mournful  strains  of  the  wind 
That  came  from  the  pine  trees  tall  ; 

He  sang  every  word  that  love  might  find, 
But  the  moon  would  not  list  to  his  call. 


112 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


;i'i 


No  warmth  of  love  in  her  steadfast  gleam, 

Complacent  her  haughty  look, 
For  the  moon  has  a  lover  in  many  a  stream — 

But,  **  There 's  only  one  moon  for  the  brook." 


LONGING 


lit 


$1 


i; 


i, 


I 


Oh,  to  hear  that  music  again, 

Oh,  for  the  scent  of  the  jessamine  flowers  ! 
Young  was  my  heart,  and  so  happy  then. 
Oh,  to  hear  that  music  again  ! 
I  am  weary  of  jangling  strife  of  men. 

And   joy   comes   not,  with    the   glow-winged 
hours  ; 
Oh,  to  hear  that  music  again. 

Oh,  for  the  scent  of  the  jessamine  flowers  ! 


! 


NATURE-SPEECH 


i 


Ca//  not  the  poet  idle,  tJioitgh  he  spend 
His  day  in  silent  watching  hour  by  hour 
The  siuaying  spears  of  ^r ass,  or  nodding  floiuer; 

Your  care  for  meat  and  drink,  that  hath  no  end, 

Doth  prison  him,  unless  your  child  befriend, 
For  7uhile  she  prattles,  he  escapes  your  tower 
Of  darksome  unbelief  j  she,  too,  hath  po7ver 

To  see  in  all  His  works  God's  thought  attend. 

Not  gold  he  seeketh,  musing  by  the  shore  ; 

Nor  praise  of  men,  for  him  the  loild-hird  sings  ; 
His  days  are  rich  with  gain  of  Nature's  lore. 

He  seeketh  not  earth's  dross,  but  precious  things  ; 
For  you,  the  gems  he  findeth  from  the  mine, 
And  years  of  living  go  to  make  the  line. 


SWANNANOA 


NORTH    CAROLINA 

O  happy  river  winding 

.Thy  grassy  meads  among, 
O'ervvatched  by  purple  mountains, 

With  laurel  boughs  o'erhung— 
O  rippling  Southland  river 

Thy  praises  who  hath  sung  ? 
As  thou  art  winding,  winding. 

Thy  grassy  meads  among. 

O  sunbright  river  flowing 

On  through  a  land  of  dreams, 
Blue  from  the  skies  all  cloudless, 

Gold  of  the  sunset  beams, 
To  daffodils  and  violets 

Thou  conjurest,  it  seems  ! 
While  gently  flowing,  flow'ng, 

On  through  the  land  of  dreams. 

■O  river  onward  stealing 

In  silence  of  the  night, 
Thy  laurel  trees  are  trembling 

With  passionate  delight 
Of  night-winds'  warm  embraces, 

And  mirrored  starry  light 
Upon  thy  bosom  shining. 

While  peaceful  is  the  night. 

"5 


If ' 
iU  11 


Al 


Il6 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


In  daylight  splendor  gleaming 

With  heaven's  unclouded  blue, 
With  evening's  royal  purple, 

Or  morning's  rosy  hue. 
The  Giver  thou  dost  honor — 

Art  singing  praises  too. 
While  clad  by  daylight  splendor 

In  robes  of  priestly  blue. 

And  hearing  praise-songs  rippling, 

With  musical  resound, 
One  gave  thee,  Swannanoa, 

The  sweetest  name  he  'd  found  ; 
And  thou,  a  river-poet. 

Art  alway  laurel  crowned. 
And  ever  may  thy  praising 

Melodiously  resound  ! 


RAIN 

From  low-hung  clouds  the  warm  rain  falls 

To  cheer  the  thirsty  fields, 
Then  to  himself  the  sun  recalls, — 
Each  drop,  that  knows  the  suasion,  yields. 


I'  S  '^ 


They  come  from  hidden  forest  nook, 

From  field  and  rolling  lake. 
Fly  from  the  river  at  a  look. 
And  e'en  the  restful  pool  forsake. 


CALM 

From  out  the  gutter's  reeking  slime 

As  pure  as  light  they  rise, 
Like  souls,  unseen  they  upward  climb, 
And  cloud  with  white  the  azure  skies. 

The  sunset  glories  interblend. 

The  moonlight's  silver  sheen  ; 
Again  to  earth  the  drops  descend, 
So  life  springs  forth  in  happy  green. 


117 


CALM 

The  rage  of  the  storm  is  over  now. 

For  the  angering  wind  is  dead, 
And  the  sea  has  calm,  as  the  smooth    white  brow 

Whence  tumult  of  life  is  fled. 

As  a  bound  to  the  glare  of  the  mirrored  sky, 

Is  the  far  shore's  pale  blue  bar  ; 
Like  a  sapphire  lieth  the  sea  anigh. 

While  rose-gleams  pulse  afar. 

The  red  sloop-sails  are  sharp  outlined. 

As  they  slowly  rock  and  sway. 
And  long  for  the  breath  of  the  western  wind 

To  waft  them  on  their  way. 

Awake,  awake,  O  Wind  of  the  West, 

Step  light  o'er  the  glassy  sea. 
Carry  the  ship  to  its  haven-rest, 

And  a  word  to  my  Queen  from  me. 


ii8 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


THE  SLEEPLESS  SEA 

I  HEARD  the  sound  of  the  sleepless  sea, 

Tossed  on  his  rocky  bed, 

Rustling  his  pillow  of  sand, 

Jarring  the  quiet  land  ; 
"  Sing  me  a  lulling  song  for  the  sea. 

For  the  wakeful  sea,"  I  said. 

I  heard  the  stir  of  the  tranquil  wind 
As  he  touched  his  pine-tree  lyre  ; 
And  the  sea  was  soothed  to  rest, 
(Moonlight  clasped  to  his  breast) 

By  the  restful  song  of  the  whispering  wind,. 
And  the  joy  of  the  white  moon's  fire. 


A  SONG  OF  THE  SEA 

I  SING  me  an  ancient  lonely  song, 

In  the  murky  night,  in  the  sunny  noon  ; 
Ages  are  sweeping  along 
Bearing  their  human  throng, 
But  ever  I  sing  the  same  wild  song 
Of  love  to  the  cold,  fair  moon. 


How  my  love  can  I  show  to  her  ? 
Wishful  waves  outgo  to  her. 
Tides  from  the  depths  outflow  to  her- 
But  I  am  only  the  earth-chained  sea. 
And  she  the  heavenly  moon. 


OCTOBER  WIND 

Resting  never,  each  weary  wave 

That  I  upward  lift,  is  asking  a  boon  ; 
Men  say  that  my  waters  rave, 
But  one  thing  only  I  crave — 
'Tis  t  le  song  unceasing  of  every  wave, 
Let  love  warm  the  heart  of  the  moon. 

None  there  is  who  can  vie  with  her  ; 
Would  I  v/ere  raised  on  high  with  her, 
To  sail  in  heaven  for  aye  with  her. 
But  I  am  chained  to  the  earth,  ah  me  ! 
She  is  the  heavenly  moon. 


119. 


OCTOBER  WIND 


The  wind  comes  rushing  o'er  the  plain  ; 
Not  soft  and  gentle  like  a  maiden's  kiss. 
But  boisterous,  glad  and  free  is  this, 

The  herald  of  ihe  wintry  rain. 

He  rushes  through  the  poplar  trees 
Whose  quiv'ring  leaves  no  longer  dance  in   green,, 
But  blotched  like  parchment  old,  are  seen 

To  flutter  sad  and  yellow  in  the  breeze. 

Beneath  the  trees  in  crimson-brown 
The  glowing  shrubbery  hints  of  Autumn's  brush, — 
We  hear  the  lessening  brooklet's  rush, 

And  see  the  dead  leaves  floating  down. 

Not  such  its  freight  in  Spring-time  days, — 
The  bushes  bowing  down  along  the  shore 


ii. 


T20 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


Remember  well  the  rush,  the  roar, 
As  murky  waters  forced  new  ways  ; 

While  on  their  foaming  breast  was  borne 
Some  grassy  island  from  the  cut-bank's  edge, 
Or  tree  with  tangled  foots,  and  sedge, 

That  from  the  shore  it  clutched,  was  torn. 

The  water-swirls  are  crystal  clear 
Beneath  the  steep  and  crumbling  gravel  bank, 
Whose  top  with  tufted  grass  grows  rank 

While  red  vine  up  gray  side  creeps  near. 


>f 


■I;  i 


{n 


ill 


■ih 


■-■*i 


The  horsetails  nod  beside  the  stream, 
And  toss  their  shrivelled  yellow  arms  about  ; 
While  ripples  fleck  the  lazy  trout 

That  gather  in  the  pool  to  dream. 

The  wind  comes  rushing  o'er  the  hill ; 
No  mourner  he,  among  the  pines  that  sighs. 
But  free,  with  broad  wing,  swift  he  flies, 

With  whirring  sound  like  distant  mill. 

O'er  broad  brown  hills  the  wind-waves  pass, 
Bowing  on  withered  stem  the  seed-filled  head, 
Shaking  the  rose-bush  burning  red 

That  flames  amid  the  faded  grass. 

And  when  there  comes  a  breath  of  cold. 
Our  eyes  are  lifted  to  the  glitter  bright 
Of  snow-clad  mountains,  where  last  night 

The  ruby  sun  was  set  in  gold. 


IN  THE  WEST 


121 


How  quiet,  how  pure,  how  strong  !     They  stand 
Like  guardian  angels  clad  in  white,  and  send 
This  warning  wind,  that  man,  their  friend. 

May  hide  from  storms  that  sweep  the  land. 

And  so,  cold-laden  is  the  wind  ; 
O'er  faded  grass,  'mid  yellow  leaves  he  flies, 
A  snowy  glitter  in  his  eyes. 

To  warn  of  storms  that  come,  behind. 


/ 


IN  THE  WEST 

Come  back,  O  Friend,  to  your  prairie  home. 
To  the  plains  that  are  wide  like  the  sea, 

To  the  brown  foot-hills  where  the  cattle  roam, 
Where  the  wind,  the  wind  blows  free  ! 

The  wind  blows  free  and  the  cattle  graze. 

And  the  eagle  sails  on  high, — 
While  the  land  lies  asleep  in  the  smoky  haze, 

And  faint  comes  the  ground-bird's  cry. 

The  ground-bird's  cry  and  the  plover's  call, 
And  the  whistle  of  hawk  I  hear, 

While  the  blackbird  flock,  like  a  sable  pall, 
On  the  sedgy  bank  appear, — 

On  the  sedgy  bank  of  the  ruftled  pool 
Where  the  sportful  wind  careers. 

You  may  joy  in  the  plash  of  its  waters  cool, 
And  drown  in  their  depths  your  fears. 


!i, 


laa 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


You  may  drown  the  fears  that  oppress  you  sore, 

And  the  cares  so  wearily  rife, 
And  blessed  peace  shall  be  yours  once  more 

As  in  spring-time  years  of  life. 

Come  then  from  the  city's  din  and  roar, 

From  breathing  its  heavy  air, 
From  dim-eyed  search  of  that  wondrous  lore 

That  the  strifes  of  men  prepare. 

You  can  'scape  from  the  strife  of  tongues  away. 

And  be  here  alone  with  God, 
While  all  about  you  the  stars  of  day 

Shine  bright  in  the  prairie-sod. 


SEA-BREEZE 

The  eager  wind  is  speeding  from  the  sea, 

O'erleaping  tall  brown  cliffs  that  front  the  shore, 
About  whose  feet  the  thwarted  waters  roar, 

Then  wild  careering  on  the  upland  lea. 

The  dusty  clouds,  from  beaten  highway  whirled. 
Are  scattered  'mong  the  fluttering  fields  of  grass. 
O'er   bending  grain,  the   gleaming  wind-waves 
pass, 

And  then  ag^-'nst  the  stubborn  wood  are  hurled. 

Through  bare  fields  winds   a   brook   with  waters 
brown. 
That  trickle  down  the  gorge's  shelvy  rocks  ; 


THE  TREASURES  OF  THE  SNOW  123 

But  at  each  rocky  brow  the  gusty  shocks 
^Pjet  the  stream  to  form  a  sparkling  crown. 

Yet  to  the  sea  the  water  falls  at  last 

Where   weed-strewn   trunks  upon  the  shore  are 
borne, 

Whose  earth-embracing  limbs  were  wrenched 
and  torn,  ' 

And  riven  from  the  land,  by  furious  blast. 

The  breakers,  madly  dashing  o'er  the  reef 
Ride  haughtily  with  foaming  crests  erect  • 
But  treacherous  sloping  shore  doth  aye  deject 

Their  wmd-urged   pride,   and   prone  they   fall  in 
grief. 

Thus  glad,  and    strong,  and  free,   the   sea-breeze 
comes, 

Leaving  white  footsteps  over  all  the  bav  - 
Whde  all  the  coast  resounds  like  roll  of  drums 


ji 


lip 


in 


THE  TREASURES  OF  THE  SNOW 

Hast  thou  entered  in 

To  the  treasures  of  the  snow  ? 
Knowest  thou  the  gems 

The  warder  sun  can  show  ? 

Leave  the  bustle  and  the  noise, 
Turn  thee  to  a  quiet  place 


I 


I  If 


124  VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 

Where  the  tassels  of  the  pine 

Shade  the  sun-glare  from  thy  face. 

'Gainst  a  silent  tree-trunk  lean, 
Now  behold  the  glittering  sheen — 

Crystals  gems,  as  when  the  crescent 
Of  the  moon  doth  light  the  scene  ; 

But  now  they  're  flashing  iridescent 
Like  a  dove's  breast  in  the  sun, — 
Fire  of  roses,  orange,  green. 
To  blue  and  violet  flashes  run 

In  a  glory  opalescent. 

How  the  gems  of  earth  are  duller. 
Flashing  from  the  graceful  hand. 

Trembling  on  the  snowy  breast ; 
On  the  bosom  of  the  land. 
Gem-like,  disembodied  colour 
Lieth  in  its  spirit-rest. 

There  a  ruby  blaze  is  shown 
Where  no  ruby  hath  been  set  ; 
Emerald  lights  are  twinkling,  yet 

No  star  amid  the  snow  is  known  ; 

The  emerald  to  blue  hath  grown, 
Sapphire  fades  to  amethyst. 
Then  momently  the  gleam  is  missed. 

The  soul  was  there,  but  not  the  stone. 

•jc  the  sardine's  crimson  blaze, 
"^ijie  golden-green  of  chrysolite, 
The  r.an-ray  of  the  topaz  bright, 

Vhu  glory  of  the  chrysoprase  ; 


UNDER  AN  OAK 

Flashes  as  from  the  starry  ways  ; 
Jacinth-purple  from  the  west 
When  violet  hills  have  twilight  rest — 

The  snow  hath  these  in  treasuries. 

Hidden  lie  they  in  the  whiteness, 
Spirit  beauties  of  the  pure, 

Till  the  sun  reveals  their  glow  ; 
But  fairer  gleams  the  sight  allure 
When  love  of  God  reveals  in  brightness 
One  made  "  whiter  than  the  snow  !" 


las 


UNDER  AN  OAK 

I  LAV  beneath  a  whispering  oak, 
The  glad  sun-raptured  day  was  at  its  prime. 
And  when  a  gentle  breeze  awoke. 
The  merry  dancing  leaves  out-spoke  ; 
Like  sound  of  laughing  waters  was  their  chime. 

The  inspiration  of  the  wind 
A  gladness  so  ecstatic,  could  arouse. 

It  seemed  their  joy  no  words  could  find  ; 

I  thought  of  days  that  lay  behind 
When  winds  of  winter  tossed  the  leafless  boughs. 

I,  too,  old  friend,  have  been  denude 
Of  joys,  by  winter  winds  that  cut  and  chill  ; 
I,  too,  in  rigid  strength  have  stood, 
With  none  to  show  me  any  good, 
And  borne  the  evil  with  a  stubborn  will. 


126 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


But  soon  the  sun,  with  cheering  beam, 
The  gladness  from  thy  silent  heart  did  call 
In  many  leaves,  that  glance  and  gleam 
While    rays   of    brightness    through    them 
stream  ; 
So  crowd  they,  that  on  some  must  shadows  fall. 

And  as  with  joyous  robe  of  green 
Thou  hast  been  clad,  through  sunshine  glow  of 
Love, 

My  sorrows,  too,  are  changed,  I  ween  ; 

For  they,  as  lower  joys,  are  seen. 
With  shadows  cast  by  joys  that  gleam  above. 


if 


SNOW  IN  APRIL 


4 


I 

lit 


The  wind  has  whispered  for  many  a  day. 
The  news  of  the  coming  Spring, 

And  the  birds  have  made  the  leafless  woods 
With  gladsome  carols  ring. 

But,  lo  !  again  the  snow  hath  come. 

And  the  fields  are  wrapped  in  white  ; 

And  the  trees  are  clad,  to  their  farthest  twig. 
In  robes  that  are  glittering  bright. 

White  as  a  fairy  troop  they  stand, 
And  white  is  the  tufted  pine  ; 

The  snow  hath  come  so  silently. 
Of  what  may  it  be  the  sign  ? 


THE  VICTOR  SEA 

The  Winter  hath  gone,  we  know  it  now  ; 

The  sunshine  he  could  not  bear, 
And  this  is  his  garment  cast  away,  ' 

And  fallen  from  upper  air. 


127 


THE  VICTOR  SEA 
Through  half  the  silent  summer  day 
The  sun  had  ruled  the  earth  with  hand  of  fire, 
The  while  his  glory  mounted  higher 
More  cruel  was  his  tyranny. 

The  blossoms  drooped  beneath  the  heat, 
The  lazy  cattle  hid  in  forest  gloom  • 
F  rom  censers  of  the  clover  bloom 

The  incense  rose  with  savor  sweet. 

Seaward  there  spread  a  sultry  ha/e  • 
Anear  the  cool  wave,  skimming  swallows  flew  • 
This  way  and  that  the  currents  drew, 

As  if  to  escape  the  throbbing  blaze. 

But  lo  !    the  sea  grows  dark  afar 
And  there  is  quivering  gleam  of  thunder-bolt - 
1  he  clouds  are  rising  in  revolt. 

Their  forces  mustering  to  the  war. 

Their  thousand  brands  defiant  flash 
The  rumble  of  a  hundred  chariot  wheels 
Is  heard  afar  ;  now  loudly  peals 

The  war-note,  while  their  shields  they  clash 


;  I 


■  !  M 

r 


128 


VOICES  AND  UxNDERTONES 


Across  the  erstwhile  glassy  main 
On  plunging  coursers  of  the  gale  they  ride  ; 
With  flaunted  banners  they  deride 

The  sun,  that  hurls  his  shafts  in  vain. 

Gray  smoke  of  battle  shrouds  the  sea, 
As,  in  the  strife,  the  armies  interlock  ; 
The  earth  is  trembling  'neath  the  shock 

Lest  tyrant  sun  the  victor  be. 

Amid  the  smoke,  the  gleam  of  brands 
And  tumult  of  the  battle  passed  away  ; 
And  now  the  ocean's  banner  gray 

Is  floating  o'er  the  happy  lands. 


RIVER  HOPEWELL 

Where  the  grass  is  yellow-tangled 
O'er  a  long-forgotten  mound, 

Still  a  gray  stone,  lichen-hoary. 

Lifts  its  record  from  the  ground. 

Now  have  passed  three  generations. 

Since  the  river  quenched  the  life 

Of  the  two,  whose  friends  so  crudely 

Carved  the  stone  with  rustic  knife. 

Druid  trees  vi^ith  gray  moss  bearded 

Whisper  o'er  the  mounded  grass, 

Wierdly  meet  with  incantations 
Generations  as  they  pass. 


THE  HOMELESS  SEA 

Still  the  tide  flows  through  the  channels, 
For  the  ocean  life  is  stronir 

ncl  Its  pulse-beat  never  ceases, 

What  if  lives  be  swept  along  ! 

Still  the  ebb-tide  sighing  outward 

Leaves  the  winding  channels  void. 

While  the  high  red  banks  are  glist'ning,— 
Parted  lips  with  surfeit  cloyed. 

From  the  old  land  young  and  hopeful 

Came  they  ;— doth  not  fate  deride  ? 
Life  itself  in  Hopewell  River 

May  go  outward  with  the  tide  ! 
Bay  of  Fnitdy,  i8S6. 


129 


,i 


"THE  HOMELESS  SEA" 

I  surge  and  toss,  I  moan  and  cry, 

My  heart  doth   heave  with  yearning  strong. 
For  mountain  strength  and  calm,  I  long, 

But  yet  the  "  homeless  sea  "  am  I. 

The  moon  is  far,  her  light  is  cold. 
To  her  my  being  flows  alway. 
Then  backward  sinks  dejectedly  ; 

Thus  forth  and  hither  from  of  old.  ' 

I  joy  in  grapple  with  the  winds. 

With  fierce  delight  I  fling  my  spray. 
And  crash  my  shores  in  lordly  play  ; 

No  longer  pain  my  spirit  binds. 


It! 


I 


i30 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


But  when  my  waves  beneath  the  moon 
Are  like  a  molten  silver  plain, 
I  feel  the  under-current  pain, — 

If  Death  would  only  grant  a  boon  ! 

My  soul  to  leave  the  earth  is  fain, 
To  float  unchained  in  upper  air  ; 
But  wings  of  cloud  when  I  prepare, 

The  winds  do  shred  them  into  rain. 


Yet  hope  a  steadfast  gladness  brings, 
The  moon  shall  blush  with  love  for  me  ; 
On  earth  there  will  be  "no  more  sea," 

To  her  I  '11  fly  on  vapor  wings. 


' 


LOVE-LETTERS 


:| 


1^1 


/  love  the  soinidin):^  of  thy  naiiw  in  Grt'rh, — 
".-/  ///(ii(/  " — incarnate  thoi/i^ht  of  purity 
From  God  sent  fortli,  that  rce  err  /ires  may  /ay 

-Be/ore  sneh  shrine  of  ho/iness,  and  wrea/i 

Thy  vengeance  on  injustice  ;  yea,  and  seek 
Our  vain  desires  and  evi/  thou^^ht  to  s/ay  ; 
Thine  eyes  are  stern  to  those  who  disobey. 

Thou  hearest  on/y  when  pure  /ips  do  speak. 

A  li/y -wand for  sceptre  tliou  dost  ho/d. 

Near  thy  pure  /ife  its  /doom  can  never  fade  ; 
From  out  t/iy  hand  /et  not  the  J/ower  he  /aid 
F\>r  sceptre  stemmed — its  fra^; ranee  doth  enfo/d 
T/i\  /ife,  the  whiteness  /ove/ier  is  than  i:;o/(/, 
And  Queen  of  t/ueens  art  thou,  simp/\  a  maid  ! 


LETTER  I. 


DOUBT 


I. 

Beloved  One,  how  tenderly  and  true 

I  love  thee,  with  a  love  beyond  compare, 
For  thou  more  holy  art  than  any  prayer' 

That  ever  sainted  nun  in  cloister  knew  ; 

And  I  do  find  my  heaven  in  eyes  of  blue 

That  shine  from  out  the  darkness  of  thy  hair 

II. 

Look  not  upon  me  thus  with  quiet  disdain, 
I  urge  upon  thee  now  no  strong  desires, 
With  walls  of  rock  I  curb  the  Hecla  fires  ; 

Yet  do  I  love  thee  so,  that  love  is  pain. 

That  soul  is  over-dulled  with  earthly  stain 

Who  seeth  heaven  before,  and  not  aspires. 

III. 
But  I  have  cleansed  my  soul  in  loving  thee, 

And  so  from  thee  and  good  can  never  swerve  • 
My  heart  is  ever  thrilling  with  the  verve 


ine  eve  would 


Of  nobleness— If  but  th 
I  do  thee  homage  now  on  bended  k 
And  stronger  groweth  love  th 


see 


nee. 


e   more    I    serv^ 


133 


134 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


IV. 

It  were  a  common,  plain,  dull  thing  to  say 
That  I  could  gladly  die  at  thy  behest, — 
Nay  rather  I  shall  live  in  noble  quest 

Of  highest  good  and  helpfulness  alway  ; 

And  so  I  add  to  love  thee  day  by  day 

Who  art  on  earth  the  truest  and  the  best. 

V. 

Thou  art  not  happy  in  this  love  of  mine, 

As  child  with  new  possession  seemeth  shy 
And  hideth  face  while  peering  friends  are  by  ; 
But  thou  wilt  feel  its  thrill,  like  precious  wine. 
And  know  thou  art  thereby  become  divine, 

And  I  no  more  shall  kneel  to  thee  and  sigh  ; 


VI. 


/ 


But  I  shall  hold  me  proudly  and  erect, 

Made  kingly  when  I  place  within  thy  hands 
A  treasure,  greater  than  from  all  the  lands 
That  earthly  kings  do  rule,  thou  might'st  elect, 
Yet,  howsoever  precious,  with  defect, 

Since  tenfold  more  thy  worthiness  demands. 


VII. 

My  lagging  tongue    can  never  speak  thy  worth. 
It  seemeth  palsied  to  my  eager  brain  ; 
And  when  from  thrilling  chords  I  draw  a  strain 
Whereat  the  glad  trees  tremble  in  the  earth, 
Even  then  I  cannot  bring  my  thought  to  birth. 
And  it  remaineth  endlessly  a  pain. 


DOUBT 


VIII. 


I3S 


In  dreams  how  oft  I  find  thee  at  my  side  ; 

My  straining  arms  with  loving  strength  enfold. 
While  thou  dost  yield  thyself,  no  longer  cold, 
But  flushed  to  beauty  with  the  rapturous  tide 
Thy  bounding  heart  doth  urge.     Do  not  deride,  ' 
As  if  my  dreaming  thus  were  overbold. — 

IX. 

The  frighted  birdling  flutters  to  the  nest 

From  swaying   twig,  whereon  he  scarce  can 

cling  ; 
And  thou  with  eyes  dilate  and  wondering. 
With  beating  heart,  dost  fall  upon  my  breast ; 
But  when  mine  arms  enfold,  thou  art  at  rest 

Like   nestling  warmed   beneath  the    mother- 
wing. 

X. 

And  I  break  not  the  silence,  which  is  joy, 

Lest  even  tenderest  word  should  make  thee 

start  ; 
I  pray  that  we  may  dwell  no  more  apart, 
So  that  mine  hours  of  life  I  may  employ 
To  shelter  life  of  thine  from  all  annoy, 
And  nestle  thee  forever  to  my  heart. 

XI. 
But  thou  dost  dream  of  making  thee  a  name. 

Of  garlands  brought  by  men  on  bended  knee  ; 

Ah,  blind  one,  who  will  give  thee  power  to  see  ? 
Thou  seekest  for  the  cold  moonlight  of  fame 
Wherefrom  no  life  can  come  to  thrill  thy  frame  ; 

Thou  needest  only  this, — to  come  to  me. 


m 


iH 


13(^ 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XII. 


For  when  love  enters  in,  then  life  is  thine 

With  all  its  gifts,  with  its  creative  power, — 
The  hand  that  hath  to  give,  as  well  as  dower, — 

And  in  that  power  alone  thou  art  divine  ; 

Seek  thou  henceforth  the  spirit,  not  the  ihrine. 
The  vernal  force,  and  not  the  opened  flower. 


XIII. 

As  still  thou  art,  as  mountain  clad  with  snow  ; 
The  glory  thou  art  seeking,  leads  to  death 
Not  life,  as  thy  fond  heart  imagineth  ; 

For  love  is  life  ;  when  wilt  thou  truly  know 

That  love  hath  immortality,  and  so 

Let    Spring   come  to    thee    with    her    balmy 
breath  ? 


XIV. 

Thou  hast  not  touched  my  lips  with  such  a  kiss 
As  Earth  receiveth  from  the  winter  moon  ; 
I  love  thee  so,  my  very  heart  would  swoon 
If  thou  should'st  grant  me  such  a  wintry  bliss 
From  thy  cold  lips  ;  yet  ask  I  not  for  this, — 
I  crave  to  serve  thee,  as  the  highest  boon. 

XV. 

For  I  do  love  thee,  as  the  summer  sun 

Doth  love  the  earth,  whatever  clouds  arise 
To  hide  from    him   her   face  ;  his  ardent  eyes 
Do  pierce  all  veils  before  she  hath  begun 
To  think  him  far,  and  when  the  rain  is  done 

Sheshineth  in  his  light  'neath  cloudless  skies. 


MnMrtaanvatt  MBvi 


DOUBT 


XVI. 


137 


My  soul  lies  vacant  while  I  wait  for  thee, 

More  blank   than   is  the  tideless  weed-strewn 
,  waste ; 

But  where  my  billowy  joys  in  sunlight    raced 
A  fragrance  yet  remaineth  of  the  sea  ; 
Tis  proof  that  thou  wilt  creep  again  to  me, 

While  I  enraptured  would  not  have  thee  haste. 

XVII. 

Thy  presence  is  my  fulness  and  my  joy, 

Thine  absence  maketh  night,  and  my  distress  ; 
And  yet,  O  Love,  thou  never  wilt  confess, 
If  silence  claimed  me,  that  it  would  alloy 
Thy  happiness,  a  moment's  bliss  destroy— 
While  I  in  loss  of  thee  were  heavenless  ! 

XVIII. 

Thou  thinkest  when  before  thy  knee  I  bow 
So  tenderly,  and  make  my  spirit  meek. 
Mayhap  that  I  am  passionless  and  weak,— 

How  canst   thou   know  my   knighthood  and    my 

vow  ? 

My  proven  strength  ?  but  all  thou  wilt  allow. 

For  deeds  of  truth,  in  silence  done,  shall  speak  ! 

XIX. 

The  land  that  knoweth  of  the  parching  heat 

Loves  not  the  torrent's  passionate   wild   song, 
Its  force  in  summer  days  t'will  not  prolong. 

Among  bare  stones,  it  dwindles  in  defeat ; 

While  green-clad  banks  the  very  brim  do  meet 
Of  silent-flowing  river  deep  and  strong. 


If 


II 


9': 


m 


m 


II 


138 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XX. 

As  one  who  shades  his  eyes  from  light,  I  came  ; 
But  now  'tis  thine  to  shade  thee  from  the  glow 
Unquenched  by  all  thy  looks  as  cold  as  snow — 
Else  from  thy  heart  shall  burst  the  living  flame, 
Not  masterful  as  mine,  and  yet  the  same, 

And  one  our  interfusing  souls  shall  grow. 


XXI. 

Then  as  the  fire  that  yearneth  to  its  source 

And  from  the  earth  doth  upward  leap  alway. 

Unto  tha      -'     a!  fire,  which  makes   our   day, 

We  two  shall  he;t'/rr!v'    rd  rush    with   love's  own 

force, 
And   as  cue  sta"-    fbroug'.    -.ue  shall   keep    our 
course. 
Forever  owning  Love's  transcendent  sway. 


LETTER  II. 


HOPE 


.1     '■: 

M 


I  FULLY  think  that  every  forest  tree 

Hath  found  my  secret  out,  and  is  aware, 
And  so  hath  whispered  it  upon  the  air 
That  every  flower  is  glad  at  heart  for  thee, 
Who  art  beloved  so  truly  ;  yet,  ah  me  ! 

Thou  hast  not  cared  ;  but,  I  will  not   despair. 


n. 

As  tenderly  as  calls  the  cushat  dove 

I  speak  thy  name,  and  at  the  tone  I  see 
The  leaves  near  by  me  all  adance  with  glee  ; 

How  well  they  know  the  rapture-joy  of  love  ! 

Thrilled  daily  by  the  ardent  sun  above, 

Lacking  whose  love,  no  life  at  all  could  be. 

in. 
My  secret  hath  escaped  from  out  my  breast, 
But  bringeth  joy  no  mortal  can  refuse. 
That  wide  world-sympathy  not  his  to  choose  ; 
The  sun  doth  blush  it  in  the  golden  West, 
The  moon  and  stars,  throughout  night's  holy  rest, 
From  sphere  to  sphere  do  sing  the  glorious 
news. 


139 


M 


140 


VOICES  AND  UxNDERTONES 


IV. 

Although  in  winning  thee  I  were  to  miss 

The  joys  that  men  do  crave,  I  should  not  moan, 
Thy  voice  is  sweeter  far  than  is  the  tone 
Of  golden  harps  ;  thy  pure  love  were  a  bliss 
Beyond  man's  hope  ;  the  brow  crowned  with    thy 
kiss 
Were  kinglier  than  any  on  a  throne. 

V. 

Though  earth  were  lost,  yet  life  were  not  undone  ; 
For  love  hath  joy  the  world  can  never  know 
That  dwells  in  stillness  underneath  the  show 

Of  things  that  fade  and  fleet  ; — life  were  begun. 

If  thou  wert  mine,  and  love  had  made  us  one. 
And  life  would  day  by  day,  diviner  grow. 

VI. 

So  I  shall  lose  no  joy,  for  all  I  gain 

In  winning  thee — who  art,  for  me,  the  way  ; 

Joyward  I  should  have  gone,  nor  brooked  de- 
lay. 
Had  it  been  mine  to  free  my  heart  from  stain  ; 
But  thine  it  is  ;  my  glowing  soul  is  fain 

With  love  to  light  the  path — to  be  thy  day. 


Vll. 


Long  have  I  gazed  upon  thy  placid  face 
While  eyes  unutterably  lovine  shone, 


I  know  thine  eyes  will  turn  to  mine  and  own 


My  1 


ove,  re 


fleet 


ing  wi 


th  th 


e  moon  s  own  grace 


The  glory,  on  our  world  that  turns  apace. 

Until  all  darkness  from  the  sphere  has  flown. 


HOPE 


141 


VIII. 

But  ah,  how  cold  thou  art,  as  is  the  moon, 
Thy  look  averted  from  my  shining  eyes  • 
How  dost  thou  keep  thy  calm  face  from  sur- 
prise 

The  while  I  make  thee  famous  in  my  rune, 
And  sing  my  love  in  perfect  days  of  June  ' 

While  gladness  downward  thrills  from   happv 
skies  ?  ^^^ 

IX. 

O  thou  who  art  my  everflowing  joy. 

My  heart's  delight,  the  comfort' of  my  soul. 
Thou  wilt  not  render  any  measured  dole  '  ' 
For  thou  hast  treasure  Time  can  not  destroy, 
The  priceless  gold  of  love,  without  alloy, 

And  when  thou  givest  thou  wilt  give 'the  whole. 

X. 

Hast  thou  not  seen  a  highway  in  the  air 
Suspended,  over  some  gigantic  rent 
Wherein  a  clamorous  hungry  flood  is  pent, 
By  cabled  steel,  whose  single  strand  could  bear 
Scarcely  a  child's  weight-yet  together  dare 
Uphold  the  traffic  of  a  continent  ? 

XI. 

Not  yet  for  us  a  circling  year  hath  gone 

Since  Love  began  to  weave  her  flawless  wires 
Of  peaceful  hopes,  and  trust,  and  pure  desires, 

None  strong  enough  to  hang  our  lives  upon  ; 

But  now  though  chasm   of  death   beneath  should 
yawn 
The  cable  holds  with  might  that  never  tires. 


n 


!  n 


!) 


m 


111  ill 


143 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XII. 

Not  yet  thou  knowest  how  my  love  hath  might — 

How  strong  between  our  hearts  hath  grown 
the  bond  ; 

But  as  the  tropic  sun  hath  sudiien  dawned, 
Ere  he  be  'ware,  full  on  the  gazer's  sight, 
So  in  thy  heart  full-orbed  shall  dawn  the  light 

When  Love  doth  touch  thine  eyes  with  magic 

J        wand. 

XIII. 

Thy  king  am  I  to  be,  and  nothing  less — 

Oh  !  I  could  serve  thee,  Love,  like  any  slave, 
To  see  thy  face  the  only  boon  I  'd  crave  ; 
For  thee  could  live  on  bread  of  bitterness, 
And  drink  of  gall  and  wormwood,  and  confess 
Exultant  joy  all  pain  for  thee  to  brave. 

XIV. 

But  far  too  well  I  love  to  serve  thee  so  ; 

I  make  thee  queen,  co-equal  on  my  throne, 
And  when  I  yield  thee  homage  thou  must  own 
That  I  am  king  of  thee,  while  bending  low. 
When  hasting  at  thy  will,  and  so  shalt  know 
That  highest  serving  is  from  kings  alone. 

XV. 

A  refuge  is  in  thee  from  all  despair, 

A  fortress  thou  from  world-despite  and  frown  ; 

To  love  but  thee  is  higher  than  renown — 
It  were  a  prize  ten  thousand  times  more  rare 
To  have  thy  fingers  toying  with  my  hair, 

Than  feel  the  pressure  of  an  empire's  crown. 


HOPE 


XVI. 


M3 


My  soul  hath  been  like  eaglet  in  a  cage 

First  gazing  on  the  blue  sky's  cloudless  dome, 
Who  quivers  with  desire  afar  to  roam 
The  ether  pure,  and  frets  with  noble  rage. 
Which  naught  that  was  a  pleasure  can  assuage  ; 
His  heart  soars  ever  to  its  heavenly  home. 

XVII. 

My  spirit  thus  is  yearning  to  be  free ; 

It  hath  foretasted  of  the  heavenly  things. 

And  all  the  body  trembles,  while  it  sings. 

Strengthen,  O  God,  the  sinew-bars  for  me  !  — 

Lest  broken  they  by  soul  that  yearns  to  Thee, 

As  linnet-cage  by  stroke  of  eagle-wings. 


I 


xviii. 
Yea,  strengthen  Thou  the  cage  to  hold  my  soul  ! 
For  what  I  know  hath  glorified  the  earth. 
Famine  of  soul  is  gone,  and  time  of  dearth  ; 
I  fear  the  blaze  if  now  I  made  love's  goal. 
Mine  eyes  were  shrivelled  should  I  view  the  whple 
Ere  earth-life   brought   me   to  the  heavenly- 
birth. 


I,  I' .. 

m 


XIX. 

I  feel  in  mine  the  throb  of  Nature's  heart. 

Which  thou  Shalt  feel,  and  clasp  my  waiting 

hand  ; 
My  tireless  patience  maketh  no  demand, 

Since  well  I  know  we  cannot  dwell  apart  ; 

I  wait  till  thou  shalt  wake  with  sudden  start, 

And  ope  thy  wondering  eyes,  and  understand. 


!<;■! 


144 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XX. 

To  thee  again,  my  Love,  I  humbly  kneel, 

That  thou  mayest  lean  and  trust  thyself  to  me, 
Then  shall  I  rise  in  strength  uplifting  thee  ; 
I  cannot  fail  thee,  this  I  know  ;  I  feel 
Thy  kiss  will  be  my  consecration-seal. 

While  thee  I  clasp  as  earth  upholds  the  sea. 


xxi, 

I  cannot  tell  thee  how  in  thee  I  trust. 

Who  art  for  me  the  source  of   strength  and 
hope  ; 

In  darkness  now,  1  shall  not  ever  grope, 
Such  light  of  God  thou  art,  so  pure  and  just  ; 
Where  thou  dost  point  th^  way,  progress  I  must, 

No  planet,  star,  or  sphere  beyond  our  scope. 


LETTER  111. 


ASSURANCE 


I. 


O  DAY  of  horror  when  the  shadow  drew 

Round   thee,  my  Love,  and  hid  thee  from  my 

sight  ! 
I  trembled,  for  I  knew  not  how  to  fight 
A  power  unseen  ;  so  tense  mine  anguish  grew 
A  cry  broke  forth,  which,  lo  !  the  darkness  slew. 
Like  new-born  infant  strangled   in   the  night. 

H. 

With  desperate  hands  I  sought  to  tear  ..part 
The  veil  that  hid  thee  in  a  death  embrace. 
But  as  I  rent,  the  shreds  would  interlace  ;' 
The  deathly  mist  was  chill  around  my  heart  ;' 
This  thought  of  dread   did   pierce  me  like  a  dart  ; 
Mayhap  I  should  not  ever  see  thy  face. 

nr. 
Then,  prostrate  on  the  each,  I  clenched  my  hands  ; 

"O  God,"   I  cried,  "O  God,  my  God,  forgive  ! 

I  can  but  say  I  care  not  now  to  live 
Though  joys  be  many  as  the  sea-shore  sands, 
A  stranger  I  should  be  in  all  the  lands 

If  this  one  heart's  desire  thou  canst  not  give. 

145 


I 


MM. 

n'i' 


146 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


m 


IV. 

"And  yet,  O  God,  merge  my  will  into  thine," 
I  faltered  slow,  for  still  I  knew  his  love  ; 
Then  one  came  to  me  swifter  than  a  dove, 
From  heaven,  I  think,  for  so  her  face  did  shine. 
Through  all  the  mist,  at  once  I  could  divine 
How  darkness  is  alight  round  those  above. 

v. 

'*'  Love  on,  love  on,  thus  tenderly  and  true  ! 
Thy  love  shall  win  so  surely  as  the  sun. 
Rejoicing  as  the  strong  a  race  to  run. 

Doth  drive  away  the  mists  that  cloud  the  blue  ; 

His  ardent  love  did  make  them  from  the  dew. 

Earth  gives  them   up  to   show  his  love  hath 
won, 

VI. 

"  Within  thy  dear  one's  heart  cold  dew-drops  lay — 
Her  joy,  the  sparkle  of  thy  love  to  know, 
Thy   blaze  hath   made  the  fog  that  hangeth 
low  ; 

"Shine  on,  be  brave,  for  this  shall  pass  away, 

'Tis  mist  arising  of  the  self,  the  day 

Her  heart  devoid  of  all  but  thee  will  show." 


VII. 

I  know  a  reason  why  the  earth  was  made, 

Why  sun  and  moon  their  changing  light  dis- 
play 
Time  hath  been  waiting  for  one  happy  day. 
That  we  who  have  the  law  of  love  obeyed 
May  be  one  light  of  love  amid  the  shade. 
Two  souls  merged  into  one  divinity. 


ASSURANCE 


VIII. 


M7 


•So  near  we  drew  there  was  but  one  between, 

The  Christ,  to  whom  both  came  with  fear  op- 
pressed, 
And  He  enfolded  us  close  to  his  breast, 
An  arm  round  each,  and  bade  us  ever  lean 
Upon  his  strength  together  ;  then  serene 

Our  hearts  became,  for  we  had  found  soul-rest. 

IX. 

Silent  for  ages  were  we  in  the  spell 

Of  new-found  love  ;  then  did  I  raise  my  head 
To  look  at  thee,  and,  "  Kiss  me.  Love,"  I  said  ; 

That  moment's  grace  what  angel-tongue  can    tell  ! 

We  felt  how  God,  in  hearts  that  love  may  dwell  ; 
We  knew  that  we  had  risen  from  the  dead. 

X. 

For  we  had  died  of  love's  intensity. 

And  centuries  had  passed  of  heart-repose 
Ere  God  awoke  us  that  he  might  disclose, 
Through  reaches  of  the  infinite,  his  way, 
And  to  our  new-born  sense  Himself  display  ; 
Then  into  God-like  life  we  two  arose. 

XI. 
-And  lo  !  there  were  new  heavens  and  new  earth 
Wherefrom     had    passed    away    the    former 
things, 

And   our  joined  souls  could  flash   as  if  with 
wings 
Prom  earth  to  heaven  in  a  moment's  girth  ; 
.And  as  we  soared,  new  knowledge  came  to  birth 

As  sweet  to  know  as  when  a  seraph  sings. 


inl 


ns 


148 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XII. 

We  can  not  fathom  God's  untold  design, 
And  comprehend  how  all  is  unity  ; 
It  is  enough  that  truthful  lips  can  say  : 

"  Forever  and  forever  I  am  thine, 

Forever  and  forever  thou  art  mine, 
Forever  one,  we  dwell  in  Deity." 

XIII. 

All  haste  of  passion  ceaseth  at  the  thought. 
As  winds  upon  the  ocean-vastness  die  ; 
For  vast  eternities  before  us  lie, — 
Millenniums  by  billions  ending  not. 
Wherein  by  love  and  God  we  shall  be  brought 
Unceasingly  from  lower  love  to  high, 

XIV. 

And  yet  my  soul  is  tremulous  with  haste 

To  know  thee  well,  that  I  may  love  thee  more  ; 
I  have  but  found  one  pebble  on  the  shore, 
From  fount  unfailing,  had  one  drop  to  taste, 
Have  seen  but  one  of  thousand  charms,  that  graced 
Ere  loving  taught  thy  heavenward  thought  to 
soar. 

XV. 

Then  thou  wert  happy  so  in  earthly  things. 
Sunlight  of  love  was  joy,  as  to  a  tree  ; 
But  like  an  angel  now  thou  'rt  spirit-free 
To  flash  from  star  to  star  with  tireless  wings, 
To  hear  what  song  the  farthest  planet  sings  ; 
For  love  doth  open  to  infinity. 


ASSURANCE 


XVI. 


[49 


While  soft  airs  met  me  with  their  touches  mild, 
Beneath  a  sky  of  blue,  as  pure  as  prayer, 
I  wandered  forth  exultant,  free  of  care  ; 
The  trees  were  glad  with  me,  and  every  child 
That  gazed  upon  my  face,  immediate  smiled. 
For  that  he  saw  a  great  joy  beaming  there. 

XVII. 

All  wonderment  within  my  soul  was  quelled. 
Though  wonders  infinite  had  come  apace  ; 
For  I  had  seen  thee  move  with  spirit-grace 
Ethereally,  thy  body  soul-impelled. 
And  men  start  in  amaze,  who  once  beheld 
The  vision  of  thy  beatific  face. 

XVIII. 

I  knew  that  thou  wert  more  than  angel  come 

To  dwell  with    me  ;  and  yet    all    seemed    so 

right. 
My  soul  was  flashing  so  with  new  delight 

My  fears  and  doubts  were  stricken  blind  and  dumb 

Before  thy  deity  ;  '  '  creeds  the  sum 

For  me,  was  living  purely  in  thy  sight. 

XIX. 

I  can  not  wish  a  child  again  to  be, 

What  may  he  know  of  highest  happiness  ?— 
A  sparkling  dew-drop  that  the  sun-rays   bless, 
Compared  with  mighty  river  grand  and  free, 
Whose   flood    will  stronger  grow,  and    reach   the 
sea, 

Of  joy,  world-compassing  and  fathomless. 


i;     I 


!  if 


l::)| 


r  r 


ISO 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XX. 

I  know,  my  Love,  it  can  not  be  elsewise — 
My  best  is  calling  for  the  good  in  thee, 
Thy  best  in  vision  beckons  unto  me  ; 
Flows  on  our  joy  beneath  the  sunny  skies, 
Laughing  to  every  balmy  wind  that  flies. 
Rejoicing  every  flower  and  every  tree. 


XXI. 

And  once,  my  Love,  how  scarcely  could  we  bear 
Sunlight  of  love  the  dewy  drop  that  filled, — 
Now  is  the  river-flood  with  sunlight    thrilled  ! 

Think  thou  what  light  of  God  we  two  shall  share 

When  to  the  ocean  infinite  we  fare. 

Made  infinite  by  Love  as  he  hath  willed! 


LETTER  IV. 

ABSENCE 
I. 
O  Love,  Love,  Love,  my  soul  doth  cry, 

When   shal]    I   kneel  and   kiss   thy  hand,  my 
Queen — 

See    thine    eyes   glowing    with    love's    tender 
sheen  ? 
Such  ardent  longing  sways  me  I  could  die 
If  dying  brought  thee  for  a  moment  nigh, 

And  dying,  on  thy  bosom  I  could  lean! 

II. 

But  O  my  Love,  what  vanity  is  mine  ! 

The  king  of  dread  would  flee  before  thine  eyes,, 
From  cerements  of  the  grave  I  should  arise 

If  thou  wert  nigh— for  art  thou  not  divine  ? 

The  fragrance  of  thy  pure  life  is  the  sign, 
That  groweth  as  a  flower  in  Paradise. 


I  II  i 


; 


III. 


Because  of  thee,  are  many  who  aspire 

To  goodness,  that  the  Father  they  may  know  ;. 

Cared  for  by  Him  thy  woman-beauties  grow. 
Who  fills  the  daisy's  heart  with  golden  fire. 
From  whom  the  petaled  halo  doth  acquire 

Its  purity,  as  white  as  falling  snow. 


iSi 


wmKw 


'52 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


if 


IV. 

Thou  art  so  far  we  can  not  greet,  they  say 

Whose  thought  is  only  of  the  lower  things, 
But  like  a  lonely  harp  with  unswept  strings 

Through  which  there  creeps  a  gentle  harmony, 

The  answer  to  a  fluted  melody, 

My  soul  to  thine  responding  music  brings. 

V. 

And  oft  in  thought  I  go  to  visit  thee  ; 

But  when  thy  gracious  womanhood  appears 
My  voice  is  choked,  and  sudden  joyous  tears 

O'ermist  the  face  my  whole  heart  longed  to  see  ; 

Content,  I  lay  my  head  upon  thy  knee. 

And  kiss  thy  hand,  whom  every  thought  en- 
dears. 

VI. 

What  more  is  absence,  than  the  fall  of  night 
Between  a  radiant  sunset  and  the  dawn  ? 
The  speeding  hours  with  silent  feet  are  gone 

Ere  evening  joy  deserts  the  inner  sight  ; 

How  soon  the  heralds  of  the  coming  light 

With  rosy  fingers  have  the  veil  withdrawn  ! 

VII. 

*'  For  night  of  silence  may  not  we  be  glad  .  .  ." 
I  say  beneath  a  sky  bestud  with  stars. 
When  crescent  moon  doth  pierce  the  cloudy 
bars  ; 
But  nights  will  come  whose   hours  are  long  and 

sad, 
Stars  blotted  out  by  elements  gone  mad, 

Save  fitful  angry  gleam  from  blood-red  Mars. 


ABSENCE 


VIII. 


153 


My  heart  responds  to  wildness  of  the  storm, 

And  like  the  clouds  whose  wierd  gray  tresses 
stream 

Upon  the  winds,  forth  on  broad  wings  I  seem 
To  vault  the  tumult,  battling  with  a  swarm 
Of  doubts  that  cluster,  scatter,  and  re-form  ; 

Down-hurtled  once  I  fell  as  in  a  dreaml 


IX. 


I  felt  as  I  were  downward  flung  through  space 
Away  ?rom  light,  clutching  at  viewless  air 
Ungraspable,  downthrust  by  cruel  care  • 
No  more  my  thought  could  frame  thy  radiant  face 
I  vanished  into  darkness,  without  trace, 

A  withered  leaf  in  whirlwind  of  despair. 


X. 

But  none  can  'scape  from  tender  love  of  God  ; 
For  thee  I  made  a  great  and  bitter  cry. 
And  lo  !  I. felt  that  all  His  love  was  nigh 
Whereof  thou  art,  while   paths  of  earth  are  'trod 
The  nearest  part  ;  His  goodness  did  I  laud. 

And  light  grew  round  me  as  I  rose  on  high. 


li-'fl 


XI. 


Then  was  I  thrilled  with  love  to  brother-men,- 
Sweet  Altruist,  thy  spirit  moveth  now  ! 
The  self-encumbered  past  is  dead,  I  trow  ; 
For  thee  I  once  laid  down  my  life,  and  then 
Thou  in  thy  love  didst  take  it  up  again, 
So  I  no  more  am  self,  but  I  am  thou. 


MM 


154 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


l\ 


XII. 

Truly  I  'm  loving  mankind  in  the  mass  ; 
But  unto  thee  more  tender  love  I  yield 
As  to  God's  one  flower  in  a  boundless  field  ; 
I  fove  the  strength  and  courage  of  the  grass 
While  o'er  bowed  heads  the  rushing  breezes  pass, — 
The  flower  confiding,  bids  me  be  her  shield. 

XIII. 

'Twas  love  renewed  her  life,  who  broke  for  Christ 
The  alabaster  box — her  richest  dower, — 
Thou    hast    renewed  my    life  by   true   love's 
power. 
And  so  for  thee  I  pour  forth  love  unpriced 
To  thy  far  place  ;  holy  I  keep  our  tryst, 

And  join  my  soul  with  thine  at  sunset  hour. 

XIV. 

The  east  is  rosy,  prophesying  dawn  ; 

Like  golden  fleece  the  wind-strewn  cloudlets 

are, 
The  west  is  barriered  with  a  golden  bar  ; 
But  soon  the  glory  from  the  cloud  is  gone. 
From  all  the  sky  the  golden  is  withdrawn 

To  make  one  quivering  drop, — the  Evening 
Star. 

XV. 

Thus  into  one  all  beauties  of  the  earth 
Do  concentrate  by  subtle  alchemy  ; 
I  gaze  on  lake  and  river,  flower  and  tree, 
Of  golden  sun  how  well  I  know  the  worth. 
But  all  their  glories  fading  bring,  to  birth 

My  evening  star, — the  face  and  eyes  of  thee. 


ABSENCE 


155 


XVI. 

And  as  we  keep  our  trysting  night  by  night, 
Amid  the  silence  are  we  made  aware 
Of  Him  who  made  the  stars,  whose  holy  care 
Our  lives  for  highest  ends  will  shape  aright  • 
By  faith  in  Him  we  have  the  goal  in  sight, 

What  though  'tis  path  of  pain  whereon  we  fare. 

XVII. 

Yea,  pain  it  is,  this  yearning,  heart  to  heart 

While  distance  rises  blackly,  like  the  screen 
That  hangs  the  sunset  and  the  dawn  between  • 

Not  mine  it  is  to  learn  the  Stoic's  art, 

And  say  it  is  not  pain  to  dwell  apart  ; 
And  yet  my  life  is  quiet  and  serene. 


XVIII. 

One  day  the  helpful  truth  did  come  unsought  • 
I  saw  this  picture  of  the  years  longgone- 
Great  stones  and  costly  from  the  quarry  drawn 
On  which,  all  guided  by  the  master's  thought        ' 
Ten  thousand  busy  hewers  daily  wrought 
Beneath  the  cedar  shades  of  Lebanon. 

XIX. 

And  then  before  the  eyes  of  wondering  folk 
I  saw  the  temple  in  its  beauty  grow. 
Disclosing  leaf  by  leaf,  as  roses  blow  ; 

No  tool  of  iron  was  heard,  no  hammer-stroke 

Upon  the  holy  hill  rude  echoes  woke  ; 

The  great  stones  fit  by  magic,  row  on  row. 


I 
I 


156 


VOICES  AND  UNDERTONES 


XX. 

Can  it  be  elsewise  with  the  "  living  stones" 
Whereof  the  spiritual  house  is  built? 
The  chisel-strokes  come  not  to  punish  guilt, 

'Tis  cleavage  of  the  evil  that  atones  ; 

A  stone  made  fit  is  he  with  love  who  owns 

The  Master's  thought,  and  answers  :  "  As  Thou 
wilt." 


XXI. 

Cheer  thee,  my  Love,  the  pain  is  not  an  ill  ! 

What  though  with  bitter  grief  of  heart  we  've 
sighed, 

The  clasp  of  hands,  the  touch  of  lips  denied, 
We  know  He  shall  our  just  desires  fulfil  ; 
In  absence  we  shall  learn  to  do  his  will, 

Then  in  the  House  be  builded  side  by  side. 


I 


ij 


POST  SCRIPTUM 

O  Lassie  ay  out  the  sea, 
IVr  t/ie  freshness  an'  joy  o'  the  sea  /'  thy/i/e, 
Come  ower  to  me 

Like  a  breeze  o  the  sea. 
Like  a  breeze  o'  the  sea 

Untrammeled  and  free, 
Come  oioer  like  a  breeze  o'  the  sea  ! 

If  on/y  I  loere  afloat, 
Afloat,  my  Love,  on  the  leaves  o'  the  sea, 
Leap  in'  and  leap  in'  to  thee,  to  thee  / 
But  my  body  is  chained  to  a  place, 
My  e'en  canna  }^aze  on  thy  face  ; 
Yet  hiirhin  the  heaven  my  thochts  are  afloat. 
Like  moonbeams  at  nicht 
They  are  wingi^d  7i>i'  Ucht, 
To  thy  bosom,  my  Love,  is  their  flicht, 
Like  the  homin'  o'  doos  to  their  cote. 

O  Lassie  ayont  the  sea, 
Godgie  thee  the  strength  o'  the  sea  i'  thy  life  f 
When  the  storms  oiver sweep, 

Thy  peace  be  as  deep 
As  the  ocean- depths  keep 

When  the  storms  oioersioeep. 
Thy  peace  be  as  deep  as  the  sea  ! 


mm 


Press  of 

Bunnell  &  Oberdorf 

Dansvillk,  N.  Y. 


